Smoke Alarm Saves Resident as House Fire Breaks Out on Mar Lynn Drive in Delmar, Maryland

Wicomico County, MD - A working smoke alarm helped a Delmar resident escape safely on Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out inside their home on Mar Lynn Drive in Wicomico County.

The fire was reported at 4:22 PM in the 8600 block of Mar Lynn Drive. The property is a one story, wood frame, single family home.

The sole occupant was alerted by a smoke alarm that activated in time for them to get out of the house before conditions worsened. EMS crews on the scene evaluated the occupant for smoke inhalation, but the person declined to be taken to a hospital.

The Delmar Volunteer Fire Department was the primary agency to respond and was assisted by several local assisting fire departments. A total of 31 firefighters worked to bring the fire under control, which they accomplished in about 25 minutes.

Investigators determined that the fire started in an electrical junction box located in the sun room of the home. The preliminary cause has been listed as accidental, the result of an electrical event.

The structure sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage. No damage to the contents of the home was reported.

This incident is a reminder of how important it is to have working smoke alarms in your home. In this case, the alarm did exactly what it was designed to do and gave the occupant the time needed to get out safely.