More Than 2 Dozen Residents Displaced As Flames Rip Through Lansdowne Senior Center
LANSDOWNE, Md. (WJZ) -- A fast-moving fire displaced dozens of elderly residents in a senior center in Baltimore County. Firefighters say they know what sparked the blaze.
Gigi Barnett has more.
At least 27 residents at the Coursey Station Senior Apartments were displaced. A two-alarm fire ripped through the complex, sending elderly residents scrambling to get out.
"It can be a cumbersome event to get older residents to leave the residence," said Baltimore County Fire spokesman Capt. Bruce Schultz. "When the fire alarm goes off, they need to leave."
Firefighters say the blaze began in an electrical panel in the basement. The fire then jumped to the third floor. That set off the alarms and fire extinguisher.
On the outside, the building looks like the fire never happened, but the damage is there.
"All of the damage was internal," Schultz said.
As firefighters investigate the cause of the blaze, the next step now is a major internal cleanup to get residents back at home. But there's no word yet on just how long that will take.
One firefighter injured his ankle while battling the blaze. He was treated at Shock Trauma.
