A Havre de Grace homeowner had just ignited his gas grill to cook dinner Thursday evening when he looked down and saw the hose and the regulator of the propane tank were on fire, according to the Office of the State fire Marshal.
The blaze, which was contained by homeowner Kenneth Vereb and his neighbors and then extinguished by firefighters from the Aberdeen, Level and Susquehanna Hose fire companies, caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the home and contents, according to a notice of investigation from the Fire Marshal's Office.
The fire, which happened in the 100 block of Tidewater Drive, was reported shortly after 6 p.m. About 50 firefighters were on the scene and it took an estimated 15 minutes to get the fire under control, according to the report. No injuries were reported.
Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal and agency spokesperson Oliver Alkire said Vereb was home with his 12-year-old son, and he was grilling dinner as his wife was heading home from work in Baltimore.
The grill was on the rear deck of the home, according to the report.
Alkire said Vereb ignited the grill and then heard "a hissing sound."
"He quickly realized and observed a fire around the regulator of the tank," Alkire continued.
Alkire said Vereb grabbed a kitchen fire extinguisher and called 911, and he tried to contain the fire as it spread up the side of his house.
The Verebs' neighbors came out to see what was happening, and they also tried to contain the fire with their extinguishers and a garden hose.
"They all came with their extinguishers and attempted to put it out," Alkire said.
Alkire said their neighbors' efforts "certainly did contain [the fire], without a doubt."
"It certainly contained and controlled that fire, to some extent, before the fire department got there," he said.
About 50 firefighters were on the scene, according to the report.
Alkire said the flames were contained to the exterior of the house with a "minor extension" inside. Some of the siding on the exterior of a neighbor's house was also melted.
Alkire said the Vereb family has been displaced, and they are receiving help from Harford County Disaster Assistance.