A family of five fled into freezing temperatures when smoldering ashes left in a garage ignited a fire at their Scaggsville home early yesterday, fire officials said.
No one was injured in the 12:20 a.m. fire in the 10300 block of Derby Drive, but two cars and other property inside the garage and home were destroyed.
The fire caused $200,000 in damage, fire officials said.
Cold weather and ice hampered firefighters' efforts to fight the blaze, said Lt. Ken Byerly, a Howard County fire spokesman.
Family members had cleaned out a fireplace late Sunday and left the bagged ashes in the garage. Just after midnight, the ashes ignited a fire, officials said.
Fire officials said ash should be placed in a metal can and put outside away from the house.
The home's owners, Kenneth and Gale Brown, and their three children stayed at a neighbor's house after the incident and were looking for temporary shelter yesterday, fire officials said.