UPDATE – Monday, Nov. 14
California, MD – A house fire sparked by electricity caused heavy damage to a St. Mary’s County home early Monday morning, Nov. 14 and resulted in displacement of the occupants, state officials reported. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze at a residence on MacArthur Boulevard in California was discovered around 1 a.m. after a family pet awakened one of the residents. “The occupant noticed smoke in the house and found a fire in the utility room,” a deputy fire marshal’s report stated. “Everyone was able to escape safely. [They] are being assisted by the American Red Cross.”
Twenty firefighters were dispatched to the one-story, single-family home and brought the flames under control in 15 minutes. There were no injuries. Damage to the house is estimated at $275,000. The fire marshal’s office identified the homeowner as Bernard Lake and the occupants and the Patterson/Hopewell family. The preliminary cause is listed as “accidental, electrical event.”
California, MD – Nov.14 Shortly after 1am. Firefighters were summoned to a reported house fire on Macarthur Blvd in the San Souci neighborhood.