Firefighters Rescue Cat, Guinea Pig From Elkridge House Fire

ELKRIDGE, MD — Firefighters with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services along with the Baltimore County Fire Department responded to a report of a balcony fire shortly after 4:25 p.m. Tuesday in the 6300 block of Green Field Road. Once on the scene, firefighters found a three-story garden-style apartment building fully engulfed in flames with heavy smoke.

All residents evacuated safely before the firefighters arrived. Once on the scene, firefighters began to get the fire under control but the fire quickly spread to the roof, prompting all firefighters to evacuate the building. While fighting the fire from outside the structure, firefighters managed to rescue one cat and one guinea pig who received oxygen with special pet oxygen masks. the department reported that they are both in good health.

It took approximately two hours to extinguish the fire. One resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused transport. The fire is being investigated.