BEL AIR, Md. — A fire early Friday morning severely damaged a two-story building on Conowingo Road, displacing a family of four and temporarily closing a local business.
The fire broke out in a second-floor apartment above Olivia’s Shop at 2721 Conowingo Road just after midnight. According to investigators, the fire started in a bedroom when a space heater ignited nearby combustible materials.
Kari Queen, the apartment’s occupant, was awakened by her 7-year-old son, who discovered the fire. She, her mother, two children (ages 7 and 18 months), and two dogs safely escaped before calling 911.
The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company responded with 30 firefighters, bringing the blaze under control within 10 minutes. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages, with extensive heat, smoke, and water damage to the second-floor apartment. The first-floor business, Olivia’s Shop, sustained water and overhaul damage from the firefighting efforts and is currently closed.
Fire officials noted that the building lacked working smoke alarms or fire sprinklers. Harford County Disaster Assistance was notified, but Queen and her family are receiving help from friends and relatives.
No injuries were reported.