SYKESVILLE FIREFIGHTERS TO CONDUCT SMOKE ALARM BLITZ IN NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FAMILY ESCAPED BURNING HOME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sergeant Bill Rehkopf, Public Information Officer
Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department
410-236-0040 (mobile)
410-795-8021 (station)

Properly working smoke alarms helped an Eldersburg family escape a two alarm house fire, Sunday evening March 11.

The fire at 7036 Macbeth Way was reported at 9:25 pm. Deputy Chief Ed Ruch, Jr. arrived on the scene within three minutes to find heavy smoke pouring from the split level home. He immediately requested additional units to the scene. He later upgraded the fire to a full second alarm assignment.

Tien Thinyoc Nguyen was inside the home with her three daughters when the fire broke out. They say they were alerted by the home's smoke alarms, and discovered the fire in the basement. They were able to escape safely, though Mrs. Nguyen received a very minor burn. She refused transport to the hospital.

Fire crews made their way into the home encountering heavy heat from the basement stairway. Reaching the basement, they found intense heat and fire conditions. Crews were able to contain the fire to the basement area, and had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes. Other fire crews worked to ventilate the home and check for any fire spread to the upper floors.

Firefighters were pleased with the news that the smoke alarms were working. "That's the message we've been pounding over the past year," said department spokesman Bill Rehkopf. "We can't understate the impact those alarms played tonight. If the family hadn't heard that sound, it could have been a real tragedy."

While the basement of the home was seriously damaged by fire, the remainder of the home suffered serious heat and smoke damage. The Nguyen family is staying with relatives.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire. There were no injuries to firefighters on the scene.

Sykesville firefighters were assisted on the scene by crews from Gamber, Winfield, West Friendship, Ellicott City, Liberty Road and Randallstown.

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