A one-alarm kitchen fire caused $75,000 in damage to a Kings Contrivance townhouse Monday night while the residents were away, Howard fire and rescue officials said.

At 7:13 p.m., firefighters responded to the blaze in the Beechs Farm development in the 7200 block of Eden Brook Drive. Investigators said the fire started when paper towels in the kitchen area made contact with a hot stove burner.

The fire spread from the kitchen to the hallway and dining room, said Sgt. Bob Wiseman, a fire and rescue spokesman.

Twenty-five fire personnel from the Rivers Park, Savage, Banneker and Burtonsville stations drowned the fire by 7:57 p.m.

In all, there was $50,000 in structural damage and another $25,000 damage to contents. Smoke and heat damaged much of the unit, Sergeant Wiseman said.

POLICE LOG

* Oakland Mills: 5800 block of Thunder Hill Road: Burglars climbed the roofs of Peoples Drug and the Dollar Store early Saturday morning and entered through heating ducts. Nothing was taken, police said.