One resident and one firefighter were taken to the hospital after two separate fires Tuesday in Columbia.
Firefighters were called to the first blaze in 11600 block of Little Patuxent Parkway around 10 a.m. where flames had spread to the second- and third-floor balconies of an apartment building, officials said. The fire was contained in about 10 minutes and damage to the apartments was minor. No injuries were reported and no residents were displaced.
The second fire, at a single-family home in the 6500 block of Quilting Way, had flames that spread to the first and second floors. After emergency workers were called around 8:30 p.m., officials said it took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. One man was taken Howard County General for evaluation, and a firefighter was also taken in for a minor back injury.
The Red Cross was helping the resident, whose house was uninhabitable.
Officials continue to investigate the fires.