Aberdeen Apartment Fire Displaces 28; Two Cats Die

A fire that started in a first-floor kitchen at an Aberdeen, Maryland, apartment building on Tuesday night left 28 people without a place to stay, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Everyone who lived in the three-story building at 48 E. Bel Air Avenue had to leave, because smoke and soot reached every level even though the flames themselves stayed in one apartment.

What happened

Fox Baltimore reported that the Aberdeen Fire Department was called at about 10:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Crews found flames showing from a first-floor window and attacked them from outside. Officials said the fire began in the kitchen of the lower-level apartment, and firefighters had it under control within roughly 10 minutes. The department did not announce a specific cause that night.

Two residents were trapped above the fire and were brought down from a balcony. Reports differ on which floor: Fox Baltimore described an upper-floor balcony, while Hoodline, summarizing other local coverage, said some outlets placed the rescue on the second floor and others on the third. The Baltimore Sun's account also describes a balcony rescue. In every version, the two people were reached by firefighters and nobody on the scene was injured.

Who was affected

The fire marshal's office counted 20 adults and 8 children among the displaced. No residents or firefighters were hurt. Two cats died in the fire. Hoodline noted that at least one other outlet counted the animal losses differently, so the number of pets lost may be revised.

Damage is estimated at about $500,000, a figure that covers the apartment where the fire started and the smoke and soot damage throughout the rest of the building, Fox Baltimore reported. Until the property owner and insurers assess the structure, it is not clear how many individual units can be reoccupied or how soon.

Cause and investigation

The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating. The Baltimore Sun reported that an electrical failure is among the possible causes being examined. That is an early line of inquiry, not a finding, and officials had not named an official cause as of Wednesday. Renters should treat any cause they see online as unconfirmed until the fire marshal's office releases its determination.

Hoodline, citing the Daily Voice, also reported that the building had no building-wide fire alarm or sprinkler system, although the smoke alarms inside apartments did sound. We could not independently confirm that detail from fire officials, so it should be read as one outlet's report.

Fire-fighting response

According to local coverage relayed by Hoodline, about 50 firefighters responded to the one-alarm fire. Their quick work kept the flames confined to a single apartment.

What this means for renters

A fire in one unit can make an entire building unlivable, even when it is out in minutes. Tenants displaced this way face the same questions in the first days, and a few steps help:

• Contact the American Red Cross. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS for emergency lodging, food and clothing help after a home fire.
• Notify your landlord in writing. Ask when the building will be inspected and whether the lease obligates rent for days you cannot occupy the unit. Maryland tenants can also ask the local government about their rights when a unit becomes uninhabitable.
• Call your renters insurer. Policies often include loss-of-use coverage for hotel and meal costs. Keep every receipt.
• Document belongings. Photograph damage from smoke and water before throwing anything away.
• Protect pets. Many shelters and hotels limit animals, so ask about pet-friendly options early.

For tenants everywhere, the case is a reminder to test the smoke alarms in your unit monthly, ask your landlord whether the building has a sprinkler system, and keep a go-bag with documents and medications near the door. Our guide, After an Apartment Fire: A First-72-Hours Checklist, walks through the steps in order.

The fire marshal's investigation is continuing, and we will update this story if officials release a cause or details on resident assistance.