Fire Marshal: Teen escaped burning Joppatowne duplex before collapse Tuesday

JOPPATOWNE, Md. — Investigators are looking into the cause of a Tuesday morning duplex fire in Joppatowne.

Fire crews from Harford and Baltimore Counties were called just after 9:30am to the 300 block of Chimney Oak Drive.

Officials say a 13-year-old was able to escape, before the second and first floor collapsed into the basement of the home.

Medics took the teen to a hospital for smoke inhalation, along with two Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer firefighters, who sustained minor injuries while battling the two alarm blaze.

It took 52 firefighters around four hours to get the flames under control.

The home is considered a total loss, meanwhile the other duplex unit sustained significant heat, smoke, and water damage.