2-alarm house fire displaces three

COLUMBIA, Md. (WMAR) - Howard County Officials are trying to figure out what sparked a 2-alarm house fire in Columbia Tuesday evening.

Crews were dispatched to the 6300 block of Scarlet Petal shortly before 7:00 p.m. to find heavy smoke and fire in the front of the residence. A second alarm was quickly dispatched.

It took about 50 firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

One resident was home at the time of the fire and was alerted by neighbors. She escaped the flames without injury.

A total of three residents were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but initial damages are estimated at about $150,000.