Ellicott City Fire Displaces Family | HoCo Brief

Tuesday morning: chance showers and thunderstorms, high near 84 degrees. Southwest wind 6 to 12 mph.

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A two-alarm fire tore through a townhouse in Ellicott City Monday morning, causing a partial collapse. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Seven people, including three children, were displaced from the building. Howard County Fire and Rescue Services confirmed the injuries and displacement. The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the fire.

Two school supply drives are collecting donations for Howard County students at drop-off sites around the county ahead of the new school year. At the Elkridge Branch library, a Kindergarten Here We Come session runs today from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for kids entering kindergarten and their parents. At the Glenwood Branch, a Moving Up to Middle School program runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for families with rising sixth graders.

Among those displaced by Monday's Ellicott City townhouse fire: seven people, including three children, who lost access to their home after a partial collapse during the two-alarm blaze. Howard County Fire and Rescue Services says the two firefighters hurt in the fire suffered only minor injuries. The State Fire Marshal's office is still investigating what caused the fire and collapse.

Howard County's Restaurant and Craft Beverage Weeks kicked off Monday and run through August 9th. More than 45 businesses are taking part, including a dozen new additions. Diners who download the Open Rewards app get 10 percent cash back at participating restaurants during the promotion.

A Howard County real estate video making the rounds online this week walks through Westmount, a newer neighborhood in Ellicott City, showing its walking trails, parks and nearby shopping and dining.

At the Savage Branch library today, Play Partners for infants up to 23 months runs from 9:30 to 10 a.m., followed by a Photography Camp from 10 to 11:30 a.m. At the Glenwood Branch, the Reading Cafe book discussion group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Howard County's Restaurant and Craft Beverage Weeks continue through August 9th at more than 45 participating businesses.

In Ellicott City, a Baltimore Sun review marks ten years since the 2016 flood, finding the county's flood fix still unfinished. In Laurel, a grocery store worker known only as 'Book Worm' cashed in a $2 million Maryland Lottery prize after a month's wait. In Baltimore, a public meeting on the Pimlico Race Course rebuild happens tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sinai Hospital's auditorium. In Anne Arundel County, federal officials say AACPS staff helped a student keep a gender transition from their parents, a possible privacy law violation. Around Maryland this weekend: 19 people were sickened at a Laurel-area military academy, a beaver bit a child, and a Montgomery County astronaut returned from the space station. In Baltimore, Camp St. Vincent gave kids experiencing homelessness a free summer program at Patterson Park this summer.

Severe storms are possible anytime Tuesday across the Baltimore area, with damaging winds and even an isolated tornado possible, according to WBAL. A fresh round of storms is also bringing a flash flooding threat across Maryland this week. Showers and thunderstorms continue Tuesday night, with a low around 67.

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That's the brief for today. Find it every morning at hocobrief.com, sign up for the newsletter, or send me a tip. I'm Alex. See you tomorrow.