At 12:50 this afternoon, units from Ellicott City and surrounding areas were alerted for a house fire in the 10500 block of Old Ellicott Circle. Howard County Communications advised that they had received several calls from passing motorists of a large amount of smoke in the area. Upon arrival units found a three story middle of the group townhouse with heavy fire showing and extension into exposures on both sides. A defensive attack on the fire building was established as crews entered the exposures. Engine 31 arrived as the third engine and established a secondary water supply while taking a line to side C. Engine 32 arrived shortly after and picked up 31's hydrant while crews from 31 and 32 entered the delta exposure to extinguish and overhaul while Paramedic 36 established the rehab sector. Firefighting efforts were hampered by an active gas leak in one of the buildings that required firefighters to wait for assistance from BGE. The fire is under investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal, but is believed to have originated in the home's garage.
