A fire damaged an artificial tree and silk plant manufacturer in the Oakland Ridge Industrial Center Friday afternoon.
The 40-minute blaze, which began at 2:38 p.m. and required 40 firefighters to extinguish, apparently began near a kiln used by Botanica Limited to dry the silk plants, said Lt. Michael Gearhart, a fire and rescue spokesman.
The six people inside the Red Branch Road office escaped without injury, Lieutenant Gearhart said. Nearby offices were not affected, and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
Police investigate Route 40 robbery
Howard County police are investigating the robbery of a 76-year-old Ellicott City woman pushed to the ground as she left a Route 40 shopping center Thursday afternoon.
Police searched the area with dogs but could not find the attacker.
According to reports, the woman was walking from St. Johns Plaza in the 9100 block of Route 40 at 12:40 p.m. Thursday when a man grabbed her purse from behind and fled, police said. The woman was not seriously injured.
POLICE LOG
* Ellicott City: 7700 block of Chatfield Lane: A stereo and radar detector were stolen from a Honda Civic Wednesday. Police said the property was valued at more than $400.