Maryland
Dog turns on toaster, sparking Maryland house fire that kills 3 pets
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Learn how a fire blanket can smother flames safely and protect your home from grease fires.
A dog jumping onto a kitchen counter accidentally turned on a toaster and ignited nearby combustibles, sparking a fire that killed three pets inside a Belcamp, Maryland, home, according to multiple reports, citing local fire officials.
The blaze broke out July 10 while the unidentified family was away, prompting neighbors to rescue two dogs before fire crews arrived, WBAL‑TV and Fox 45 reported.
The Abingdon Fire Company responded at 5:35 p.m. ET to the home and brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes, according to the fire station’s Facebook post. There were no human injuries, but investigators reported extensive fire, soot, smoke and water damage throughout the single‑family home, Fox 45 reported.
Ring home security video captured the moments before the fire. Investigators said the footage showed one of the family’s dogs climbing onto the counter and pawing at items near the toaster, helping deputy state fire marshals determine the fire’s point of origin and ultimately rule its cause as accidental.
Three pets – a dog named Dakota and two unidentified cats – died in the blaze, according to Fox 45. Two other dogs, Bo and Addie, were rescued by neighbors. The family’s bearded dragon survived after spending 24 hours in critical care, officials said.
Neighbors rescue two dogs from burning home
Fire officials said Bo was the dog seen on video inadvertently turning on the toaster. The appliance ignited nearby materials, allowing the fire to spread rapidly through the kitchen before crews arrived.
Neighbors who saw smoke coming from the home reached Bo and Addie before conditions worsened.
Officials detail damage to home
Officials estimated the home sustained about $150,000 in structural damage and roughly $50,000 in damage to its contents, though some assessments place the total loss closer to $200,000, Fox 45 reported. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to neighboring properties, but the interior of the home was heavily damaged.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
MARYLAND (WBFF) — Marylanders will be able to save on back-to-school shopping starting Sunday, when the state’s annual Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week begins.
The sales tax holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Sunday, August 9, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 15.
During that period, qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item are exempt from Maryland’s 6% sales tax. The first $40 of the purchase price of a backpack or bookbag is also exempt from sales tax. Eligible purchases made online at Maryland retailers during the tax-free period also qualify for the exemption.
ALSO READ | Back-to-School: Comparing prices for school supplies
Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman encouraged families to take advantage of the savings while shopping locally.
“As families across Maryland prepare for the school year, every dollar matters,” Lierman said. “Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week helps parents stretch their budgets while encouraging Marylanders to support the local businesses that strengthen our communities. Whether you are shopping for back-to-school essentials or updating your own wardrobe, this week is a great time to save.”
ALSO READ | Tax-free week sparks Dollar General back-to-school deals across Maryland
Marylanders can also win up to $1,000 by entering the Maryland Tax-Free Week Video Contest, which is sponsored and administered by the Maryland Retailers Alliance in partnership with the Comptroller of Maryland. Entries must be submitted by the August 12 deadline.
A complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items, frequently asked questions and additional information about Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is available on the Comptroller of Maryland’s website.
The 2026 heat season is now the deadliest in known history, as new data from the Maryland Department of Health reports a total of 50 heat-related fatalities since May, surpassing the previous record set of 46 in 2012.
This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Read the story at Maryland Matters.
The 2026 heat season is now the deadliest in known history, as new data from the Maryland Department of Health reports a total of 50 heat-related fatalities since May, surpassing the previous record set of 46 in 2012.
The number of heat-related deaths soared in July, with 43 deaths reported just last month, according to a Wednesday update to the state’s weather-related illness dashboard. Fatalities could continue to climb with weeks remaining in the 2026 heat season that runs from May through September.
Maryland Health Secretary Meena Seshamani and the health department urge Marylanders to check in on vulnerable neighbors and loved ones for the remainder of the summer, while staying cool and hydrating to avoid future health emergencies.
“With each tragic loss, the Secretary and Department extend our condolences to the loved ones of these individuals,” Seshamani said in a written statement Thursday. “We continue to work with Marylanders on steps they can take to guard against overheating, including visiting a local cooling center and checking on older individuals and people with chronic diseases who are particularly vulnerable to heat.”
The Wednesday update to the state’s data dashboard shows that along with the 50 fatalities, there have been 1,300 trips taken to urgent care or the emergency room for heat-related illnesses and around 1,260 calls for emergency medical services.
The 50 fatalities reported so far surpasses the previous record from 2012, when 46 people died due to heat-related illness. That year, a July storm disrupted the power and air conditioning to many Maryland homes for days just as a heat wave hit. Some of those outages lasted more than a week, according to state documents.
Heat-related deaths have been on an upward trend in Maryland since 2022, when five heat-related deaths were reported for the summer.
Certain populations, such as elderly residents, are vulnerable to heat-related illness and fatalities. Among the 50 people who died this summer, 62% were aged 65 and older. Meanwhile, people aged 45 to 64 account for 28% of heat-related deaths. The department reports at least one child aged 4 or younger also died due to heat-related illness this year.
State health officials urge Marylanders to check on their elderly neighbors as the summer continues. Drivers should also check to make sure that children and pets are not left in the car during the summer, as temperatures inside vehicles can climb quickly and become dangerous or fatal.
On hot days, the department reminds Marylanders to drink plenty of fluids and urges folks to avoid alcohol, caffeine and overly sweetened beverages. Those in need of a cool location can contact their local health departments or call 211 to find the nearest cooling center.
Maryland
New tool links Maryland SNAP recipients to job resources as thousands lose food assistance – WTOP News
To maintain their SNAP benefits, recipients have to work at least 20 hours a week, or at least 80 hours a month.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced a new tool Friday for SNAP recipients in need of information about employment and job training resources after the Trump administration changed eligibility requirements.
To maintain their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, recipients have to “work 20 hours a week or more, or 80 hours a month or more,” said J.D. Douglass-Robinson, the acting director of the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Benefits Access.
Those activities can include going to work at a paid job, taking part in employment and training programs, volunteering “or any mixture of those three things.”
Nearly 36,000 Marylanders lost their SNAP benefits after the changes took effect Nov. 1.
The new interactive tool links users to 46 employment and training partners, which Douglass-Robinson said will help recipients meet the SNAP requirements and, “sets them up for success once they leave those programs” and look for job placement.
Recipients will be able to take part in 12- to 16-week training programs depending on the types of employment and training they choose.
“They can filter what kind of job fields they want to look for, so things like hospitality, automotive, childcare, health care, etc.,” Douglass-Robinson said.
“They’ll be able to look and see what training providers are in their area, and we’re trying to make it as seamless as possible for customers to enroll in this program and start building a career,” he said.
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