LAVALE, MD — A fire broke out at a split-level single-family dwelling at 12711 Winchester Road on Friday, May 3, at around 9:02 AM, causing significant damage and minor injuries. The owners, Thomas and Deena Helmstetter, were at home when the incident occurred.
A neighbor discovered the fire originating from the rear deck of the house and alerted the occupants. An electrical malfunction involving a hot tub is believed to be the preliminary cause of the fire, which was deemed accidental. The homeowner sustained minor burns to his arm while attempting to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived.
The LaVale Volunteer Fire Department responded with 40 firefighters and managed to control the blaze within 30 minutes. The fire resulted in an estimated loss of $200,000 to the structure and an additional $50,000 to the contents. Smoke alarms in the home were activated, although no fire sprinkler system was present. No arrests were made in connection with the incident.