$350K In Damage, 3 Injured In Joppa House Fire: Officials

JOPPA, MD — Two firefighters were burned in a duplex fire in Joppatowne where a child inhaled smoke Tuesday morning, officials say. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, and the house was considered a total loss.

Fire was showing from all floors of the building in the 300 block of Chimney Oak Drive when crews arrived, according to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

A resident reported the blaze around 9:30 a.m., investigators said, and more than 50 firefighters from Harford and Baltimore counties responded. While they were inside, the first and second floors collapsed into the basement, investigators said.

"The firewall between the units contained the bulk of the fire to only the one unit," investigators said. "The other unit sustained significant damage including heat, smoke, and water damage."

Three people were hospitalized due to their injuries, the fire company reported: one firefighter was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, another firefighter was taken to MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and a 13-year-old was taken to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center for smoke inhalation.

Officials said there was $250,000 in structural damage, while $100,000 worth of contents were also lost.

Crews remained at the scene of the blaze Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating, including K9 Kachina. As of Tuesday night, the fire marshal reported the cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.

#BREAKING A team of Deputy State Fire Marshals & K9 Kachina is on the scene and actively investigating this duplex fire in Harford County. Just after 9:30 AM, FFs from @jmvfc8 & surrounding departments, including @BaltCoFire, were dispatched to the 300 blk of Chimney Oak Dr pic.twitter.com/AmBfVzrc9c
— Maryland State Fire Marshal (@MarylandOSFM) June 29, 2021