Forest Hill Fire Caused $80K in Damage

A fire that broke out in a Forest Hill home Saturday began due to a malfunction on the sun porch, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

At 11:46 a.m., a house fire was reported in the 500 block of Forest Valley Drive, the fire marshal said.

The owner discovered the blaze on the rear sun porch and attempted to put it out with a portable fire extinguisher, the report stated. The fire grew in intensity, and the owner and his dog escaped without being injured, according to the fire marshal.

Approximately 50 firefighters—from Bel Air, Jarrettsville, Fallston, Darlington and Jacksonville—responded and controlled the blaze within half an hour, the fire marshal said.

According to Harford County Fire & EMS spokesman Rich Gardiner, the blaze was contained to the second floor and the sunroom.

As a result of the fire, there was $60,000 in structural damage and $20,000 in damage to the contents of the home, the fire marshal reported.

The blaze was ruled accidental, traced to an electrical malfunction within the ceiling of the sun porch, according to the report.

The homeowner and his dog were being assisted by the Red Cross, the fire marshal said Saturday night.