Home Improvement Caused Bel Air Blaze: Fire Marshal

A fire that began with a spark in a Bel Air home Friday resulted in $25,000 in damage, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The owner of the home in the unit block of Huntington Place drilled a hole in the exterior of his house for a new water spigot, according to the fire marshal's report. Two hours later, he smelled smoke, the report said.

A fire had started inside the wall between the garage and the kitchen before 1:30 p.m. Friday, the fire marshal said.

Friction from the drill had ignited the wall stud, and sparks spread to the insulation, according to the report.

The smoke alarm did not activate, and once the homeowner discovered the situation, he tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher, the report said.

Within five minutes, approximately 25 firefighters from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company had the fire under control, according to the report.

The fire marshal reported the blaze caused $15,000 in structural damage and $10,000 in damage to items inside the home.