UPDATE: Fire Destroys Perry Hall Condos, 17 Displaced
The fire was reported at around 8:15 p.m. along Haven Farm Road in the Perry Hall Farms neighborhood, a Baltimore County fire official said.
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UPDATE (Nov. 7, 11:10 a.m.)—Find updated information in the article, UPDATE: Perry Hall Condo Fire Ruled Accidental, $1M Damages Estimated.
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UPDATE (Nov. 5, 12:10 p.m.)—A three-alarm fire struck a section of condominiums along the 9600 block of Haven Farm Road in the Perry Hall Farms neighborhood Friday night.
Billowing smoke was reported at about 8:15 p.m., said Lynn Mullahey, a Baltimore County Fire Department spokeswoman.
Mullahey estimated that about 20 pieces of fire equipment from Baltimore and Harford counties, as well as about 100 emergency responders, arrived on the scene.
Crews contained the fire by about 10 p.m. and remained on the scene after 10:30 p.m.
Fire officials worked with the Red Cross to find shelter for 15 adults and two children who were displaced, Mullahey said. Everyone was evacuated from the impacted condominiums and no civilians or firefighters were injured.
Investigators determined that the fire started in the ceiling above one of the third floor condominiums, Mullahey announced Saturday morning. Its cause, however, remains under investigation.
"We didn't get all the flames but we probably got all the damage," said Mary Alice Pruitt, who lives on the second floor of the impacted complex.
Her husband Robert Pruitt said the fire was devastating.
"It feels pretty bad—all your life's savings up in smoke in the matter of a half hour," he said.
Patricia Adcock, who lived with her mother on the fourth floor, said the blaze took an emotional toll.
"It's scary. I'm shivering. My mother is 87 ... she's been saying her rosaries so hopefully everything's going to be OK," Adcock said. "I could definitely use a drink."
Late Friday night, the Perry Hall Improvement Association announced an effort to collect gift cards for fire victims. More information is available in the article, PHIA Collecting Gift Cards for Condo Fire Victims.
A similar drive for gift cards was announced after the Juliet Lane condominium fire in August.
Follow Perry Hall Patch on Facebook and Twitter for updates and more information on how to help.
How did the fire impact you? Are you in need of help?
Debi Mikolowsky
10:13 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
I heard the sirens - and then more sirens. They just kept coming. Then I heard my 6 & 5 year olds yelling from their room so when I went to check on them, they pointed out their window. I saw an orange fireball on the roof of the condos across the street. I ran out the front door and saw more fire trucks than I have ever seen in one place at one time. There were people everywhere - coming out of their homes to see what was happening...but sadly, many people from the condos running, in pajamas, standing outside in disbelief. This was devastating to witness. I am so relieved to know that there were no serious injuries. I am so sad for those who are now without a home and their personal belongings. Awful...
Wayne Monroe
6:22 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I hope the Patch will follow up on this story. I'd be interested in what caused the fire. These condos are sprinklered.
Sarah
8:24 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
These condos only have 3 floors so I'm guessing the fire started there? This is just awful. Right before the holidays. I'm glad nobody was hurt.
Marje Lentz
8:35 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
God Bless all those involved from the property loss and the first responders. We are lucky it wasnt worse.
Sharon J. Remeikis
10:12 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
So sad.to.hear and see this. Thankfully everyone was able to escape. Sending prayers to all and thank you to the early responder who remained at the scene until 10:30 to make sure fire was out.
David Marks
12:20 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I have reached out to the homeowners association president and the management company and offered my help. Many thanks to the firefighters and all public safety personnel who assisted last night.
RNinBalto
12:35 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I just walked back there this morning-I found out from one of the locals that it started frm sparks coming from the exhaust & then the whole thing fell down. That is messed up. lawsuit?
Jessica Lipka
1:58 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
It was in my friends complex in the condo above hers
Karen B
9:45 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I can sympathize completely. I lost my home in 2004 to a major fire. I know live with my parents on Forge Acre. I cannot believe I didn't hear anything. The insulation in our home is phenomenal, we very rarely hear outside noise. I did though notice something funny as I was driving to Taco Bell @ 1:30 am. There were several vehicle's park on honeygo blvd and had a feeling something wasn't right. I am so relieved to hear no one was hurt. The material things can be replaced.
Shelley
6:38 am on Sunday, November 6, 2011
The count of residents is almost certainly low. Given that there were 24 condos in the building which has now been condemned, it is likely that closer to 48 people are now without homes. My friend and her elderly mother are now without their home. I am curious about the way this fire spread - through the attic, condo building to condo building. It seems as though the required fire retardant walls between units may not have extended to the attic. I wonder if this was a code violation? This fire engulfed the entire third floor's 12 units very rapidly, and seemingly with little impediment.
James Clements
9:08 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Why is it that these types of fires in the Perry Hall and White Marsh area, as well as other areas of Baltimore County, seem to frequently jump from condo or apartment to another via the attic?? Is there a problem with the code? I can't believe they would be approved for occupancy if they were not up to the minimum code. Should the BCo Council be asking the question?
jack amrhein
11:30 am on Monday, November 7, 2011
Shelly
The number of displaced that night assisted by Red Cross was reported in this article as 15; because the remainder had made arrangements on their own for shelter. Im not sure of the total number long term. The fire spread was in the attic space, not condo to condo. As you can see in the pictures, the majority of the top floor did not have direct fire damage.
Sarah
This particular building actually has 4 floors; 3 on the street side and 4 from the rear including the walk-out bottom level..a little different from others in the complex
IF there are any code violations, im sure that the Fire Investigators and Insurance investigators will address the issue.
The important thing to remember is that emergency crews responded and worked as quickly as possible to avert more damage; and that ALL those involved, responders and residents, remained safe and uninjured.
Emily Kimball
12:04 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
UPDATE (Nov. 7, 11:10 a.m.)—Find updated information in the article, UPDATE: Perry Hall Condo Fire Ruled Accidental, $1M Damages Estimated, http://patch.com/A-n4BY
megp
6:37 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2011
I wonder what the 'fire retardant' walls consist of -- staggered drywall with a fire rated insulation that gives you 30-minutes to get out, before you could die of smoke inhalation? Why were these condos not built to a better standard, with cement cinder block walls between each residence, as they are in the Mays Chapel units? Makes me wonder if they are safe to live in ....
RNinBalto
8:38 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
That's because the condos were built either by Ryland or Ryan
Tim
9:13 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
most likely this. Ryan builds horrible townhomes, and Ryland's are only marginally better.
Bart
10:56 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
So many people today want the biggest house for the smallest amount of money - this is what they get. They builders throw up these stick buildings in about a week and a half, and I'm sure they're built to somebody's code.