Multiple Harford County fire companies were called to a "working apartment fire" in the Riverside area of Harford County on Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were called to the 4603 block of Annhurst Drive, off Riverside Parkway and Brass Mill Road, shortly after 9 a.m., after smoke was reported from one of the single-story cottage units in the neighborhood, according to monitored Harford County emergency radio dispatches.
Jeremy Drehmer, an assistant chief with the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company, said the fire originated in the bathroom of one of the units, causing extensive damage to the entire unit.
No injuries were reported.
In addition to Abingdon, units responded from the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department, Aberdeen Fire Department, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company and Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, Drehmer said. He estimated it took about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Elise Stolo, who has lived in the neighborhood for about a year and around the corner from the fire scene, said: "There was black smoke billowing. It looked like it was a pretty big fire, the window was broken."
It also looked like the fire was spreading, she said.
"I was a little concerned that it was going to spread but I think they got it in time," she said, noting she did not see any flames, just black and white smoke.
Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said the couple who lives in the unit was not home when someone in the area saw smoke coming from the unit. The woman who lives had left for work and the man had gone to the gym, he said.
Preliminary investigation indicates the fire was caused by a failure in a bathroom electrical outlet, Alkire said. He estimated the damage at approximately $50,000.
"The couple has renter's insurance, which is a rarity," he said.
Harford County Disaster Assistance had representatives at the scene assisting the displaced residents of the unit.
This story will be updated.