CECIL COUNTY — Volunteer fire fighters and the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal responded to three separate fires, all with accidental causes, according to investigators.
The fires happened Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
Just after 4 p.m. Thursday Community Fire Company of Rising Sun was called to 103 Harrington Drive to extinguish a fire in a garage.
Started by a malfunctioning electrical outlet splitter, investigators report the fire was held to the garage and did not spread to the house because the interior door to the garage had been closed.
Acting Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said this is a good example of the “close before you doze” principle meaning that closed door can isolate the fire’s flow, reduce room temperature, and decrease carbon monoxide levels.
“(Thursday’s) fire shows that keeping doors closed makes a difference. It can reduce the temperature from 1,000 degrees to 100 degrees. It is crucial at night when people are vulnerable and disoriented, with little time to react. It’s a simple thing to do, and the result can be life versus death.” Mowbray said.