15 Displaced After Fire In Elkridge, Officials Say

ELKRIDGE, Md. (WJZ) -- More than a dozen people have been displaced following a fire at a condominium building in Howard County Tuesday evening, officials said.

The fire broke out along the 6300 block of Green Field Road in Elkridge.

Crews said the third-floor balcony and apartment were fully involved upon arrival.

Residents evacuated prior to arrival, the Howard County Fire Department said. Firefighters battled the flames from the outside.

A cat and a guinea pig were rescued and given oxygen, officials said.

In total, 14 adults, one child, seven dogs, five cats and a guinea pig have been displaced. No injuries have been reported.

"I turned around and noticed black smoke was coming in through the attic, and it was oozing in through the front door," said Christina Alva, who was displaced as a result of the fire.

"My neighbor came out and she just says, 'My porch is on fire.' She had her granddaughter, and it was just like, 'Let's get out of here,"" Alva added.

Roger Surratt lives across the street from where the fire started.

"I saw a couple of people sitting outside that were pretty upset that were obviously residents there," he told WJZ.

Officials said the massive fire destroyed every unit inside the complex.

"I haven't had any report of stability issues, structure issues for the entire building, but the units that are posted, nobody will be in there," Brad Tanner, Director of Community Outreach and Media Affairs, Howard County Fire and Rescue, said.

"I'm just glad we made it out, but you think the pictures, the photos, the things you're working on, you just think, 'Oh, no,'" Alva said.

Firefighters from Montgomery County also responded to the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In:
• Baltimore
• Howard County
• Fire