Fire Rips Through University Park Home

A group of five college student renters may need to find new digs temporarily following a small house fire in University Park yesterday. 

Fire and rescue crews responded to the 7000 block of Baltimore Avenue in University Park at about 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, after receiving reports of a deck fire. Upon arrival, they discovered that the deck fire was only part of it. Fire was also found in the basement.

Only one of the five tenants of the home was present at the time of the fire, and fire officials on the scene said that the tenant was not aware of the basement fire when he called 911. 

No one was injured in the blaze, which was quickly put out. However, in order to get access to the fire, firefighters had to chop away the rear wall of the house, completely exposing the kitchen to the elements. 

The cause of the fire, as of this writing, was not yet known. 

Fire and rescue crews from the College Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, Chillum and Adelphi volunteer fire departments responded to the scene.