The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating a fire at the Abingdon condominium complex The Pointe that displaced about 30 residents and heavily damaged two buildings.
Firefighters responded to the burning structures in the 3500 Block of Thomas Pointe Court around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, the fire marshal’s office reported. The blaze was discovered by one of the building’s occupants and took about 90 minutes to control, requiring 60 firefighters.
No injuries or deaths were reported but the blaze caused about $2 million in damages, according to the fire marshal.
The preliminary cause of the fire remains under investigation, the office reported, but it appears the fire started on a third-floor outdoor balcony. The building’s fire alarm and sprinklers were activated.
Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said that discarded smoking materials could not be discounted as a possible cause of the fire. Because sprinklers were not required by code on the exterior balcony, the fire was able to spread upward to the roof more easily.
“Once it breaches the roof and the ceiling area, it is pretty much off to the races until the fire department can contain and control that fire,” Alkire said.
Both the buildings are condemned, Alkire said. One is a total loss, while the other sustained heavy damage to its third floor. To prevent fires from discarded smoking materials, Alkire urged those who smoke to dispose of cigarettes proper receptacles.
The American Red Cross and Harford County Disaster Assistance are assisting residents who have been displaced, the office reported.