$800K In Fire Damage, Maryland Home A Total Loss

The Salerno family was house shopping for a year before they closed on a two-story home in Street. Moving from a townhouse, the family saw in the property ample room for their two kids — and third on the way — when they closed on it in June.

A little over a month later, the home is charred by fire damage, and the family forced to stay in a hotel.

Firefighters responded to the home 3600 block of Hollands Branch Court at approximately 1:40 p.m. Sunday, according to a Office of the State Fire Marshal release.

It took two hours for the firefighters to control the blaze, which started inside the garage. No one was injured in the blaze. The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Shawn Salerno said he and his family had returned from the beach Saturday and found nothing amiss. They were still in the process of moving their belongings from storage into the new house. On Sunday, the family was sitting down for lunch when Salerno heard a noise coming from the garage and saw smoke curl over the top of the door.