$350K In Damages To Havre De Grace House Caused By Reignited Fire Pit Flames

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A one-story home caught on fire Monday afternoon, which state fire marshals have attributed to a fire pit that reignited.

The call came in shortly after 2 p.m. Oct. 14 for a fire in the back yard of the home at 928 Otsego St. Firefighters with the Susquehanna Hose Company arrived to find embers from a fire pit had reignited and spread to the home. The owner told officials had been burning various items in the fire pit, including cardboard, earlier in the day and thought he had extinguished the fire, according to a public report from the state fire marshal's office.

Five adults and three dogs were able to escape without harm. Harford County Disaster Assistance is assisting them, the state fire marshal's office stated in a public report.

The loss of contents and damage has been estimated at $350,000.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal recommends the following:

• Windy weather and backyard fires don't mix, so check the wind conditions before lighting your outdoor fire.
• Typically, if the wind speed is 5 mph or more, it is unsafe to light the fire.
• Strong winds can cause the fire to jump onto grass or brush, quickly spreading to nearby structures.
• If you do use a burn barrel, build campfires at least 25 feet away from tents, shrubs and anything that can burn.
• Always ensure the fire is completely extinguished before exiting the area.
• This means no glowing embers or smoke. Use water or sand to extinguish the fire thoroughly. Then monitor the area to make sure there are no remaining hot spots.