Five UMd. Students Displaced After House Fire

Fire started in basement bedroom of rented house

Five University of Maryland students are looking for a new place to live after a fire damaged their College Park rental home.

Firefighters responded just after 11 p.m. Sunday to a reported house fire in the 7000 block of Baltimore Avenue, an off-campus house rented by five students who attend the nearby University of Maryland.

Authorities found the fire in the basement of the single-family home.

Only one student was at home at the time of the fire, studying for finals that were to begin on Monday.

It took 25 firefighters about 15 minutes to put out the fire. Authorities believe the blaze was caused by a light fixture in the ceiling of a basement bedroom.

The damage caused by the fire is estimated to be $13,000.

One firefighter sustained a sprained ankle while putting out the fire. He was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and was later released.

The County Citizens Services Unit provided temporary shelter at a hotel and other basic necessities.

The other four occupants had not returned as of early Monday morning.

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