A Laurel family is searching for the man who awakened them early Monday to tell them that their garage was on fire. They want to thank him for saving their lives.
"He was like our guardian angel," said Kenneth Brown Jr., whose house in the 10300 block of Derby Lane suffered about $200,000 in damage. "Everybody was home, sound asleep. We heard this large knocking on the door. This guy, by knocking on our door, saved our lives."
Mr. Brown was home with his wife, Gail, and their three children when the fire began just after midnight.
The family had cleaned out a fireplace in their Hunter's Creek home late Sunday and left the bagged ashes in the garage. Just after midnight, the smoldering ashes ignited. The fire destroyed the Browns' month-old car and 4-year-old minivan.
None of the family members was injured. Their home's smoke detectors didn't go off until after the stranger had awakened the family.
The Hunter's Creek Homeowner's Association plans to give the stranger a certificate or award if they can find him.
"I didn't even get a chance to thank him," Mr. Brown said.
POLICE LOG
* Scaggsville: 8200 block of Sandy Stream Road: A red 1987 Nissan 300ZX with Maryland tags 120AMX was stolen from a resident's garage Tuesday. Police said the thief possibly used an electronic garage door opener that did not belong to the victim to enter the garage.
8200 block of Hammond Branch Way: A purse was stolen from a home after a burglar walked through an open garage and entered the house through an unlocked adjacent door Wednesday.