K-Mart Fire in Eldersburg

A fire was reported on Monday at the K-Mart in the Carrolltown Center in Eldersburg, Maryland in Carroll County. Fortunately, no one was injured. Unfortunately, the fire did not consume the entire mall and burn it to the ground.

Fire companies from Sykesville/Freedom, Gamber, Winfield, Liberty Road VFD in Baltimore County, and a company from Howard County arrived to put out the fire that caused $2000 in damage. Having 5 fire companies respond, however, cost tax-payers $20,000.

There was speculation that the fire was caused by Chinese-made toys tainted with phosphorous and lead which were placed too close to a light bulb. These reports have not yet been confirmed.

The mall, which is not frequented by anyone from Carroll County, is also anchored by Peebles, Dollar General Stores, Big Lots, and a Dungeons and Dragons-type store for nerds. Several times in the past year, state highway employees arrived to board up the mall thinking it was abandoned.

However, Dixon Harvey, the owner of Black Oak, a development company, has fought off pressure to improve the mall and hopes to turn Eldersburg into Carroll County's version of Randallstown. Houses surrounding the mall have decreased in value and have brought in undesirables who contribute to the noise and graffiti that blesses the mall.