An Eldersburg man used a flammable liquid to light a wood-burning stove in his home Sunday morning, igniting a fire that displaced his family.
James Hiler Jr. tried to light a stove at 11:30 a.m. in the basement of 6206 Long Meadow Drive using what he believed was a can of camper stove fuel, said firefighters from the Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department.
The flames ignited the can, which Hiler attempted to pick up but burned his hand before escaping.
His parents, James Hiler Sr. and Patricia Hiler, were not home.
The family?s beagle died from smoke inhalation.
In a twist of fate, the same dog had barked and alerted the elder Hiler to a house fire next door in July 2006 that claimed the lives of Richard Stewart, 78, and his son, Richard Stewart Jr., 51.
“We don?t want anyone using flammable liquids inside the house. It?s the worst possible thing you can do,” said Bill Rehkopf, a fire department spokesman.
“Wood stoves are wonderful to have when used properly, but this was clearly a case where it wasn?t.”
Firefighters quelled the blaze in 20 minutes. Units from Gamber, Winfield, Howard County and Baltimore County assisted.
