POLICE BEAT | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

House fire

A home was damaged Monday night after a chimney caught fire, county Fire Department officials said.

At just before 9 p.m., firefighters were called to the 300 block of Bay Front Drive.

When they arrived, they found a two-story single-family home with flames coming from the back, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.

Two people were home when the fire broke out, Chief Cox said. They were awakened and were able to get out of the home to call for help. The smoke alarms were working, but the two people were outside before the alarms went off.

The fire is being called accidental, and firefighters said it started in the chimney. The fire was contained to the outside of the house, and caused an estimated $30,000 in damages. No injuries were reported.

Linthicum

Restaurant robbed

A McDonald's restaurant was robbed by a man with a semi-automatic handgun Sunday night, county police said.

At about 9:40 p.m., the robber, who wore a blue ski mask and blue hooded sweatshirt, walked into the restaurant at 717 Nursery Road and waved a black handgun.

The man reportedly ordered employees to open the safe, then took the cash and ran, police said.

He is described as black, about 6 feet tall, and 230 pounds. He was last seen was wearing black pants and carrying a black book bag.

BROOKLYN PARK

Arson investigated

County firefighters are investigating a Brooklyn Park apartment fire they say was intentionally set on fire Tuesday.

Crews were called to the 100 block of Warwickshire Lane just before 12:40 p.m. Firefighters saw smoke coming from a second-floor apartment in a six-story building, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.

It took 26 firefighters about 20 minutes to get the flames under control.

It is unclear if anyone was home when the fire started, but fire investigators are calling the blaze arson. It caused $30,000 in damages and displaced at least one person, Chief Cox said.

Firefighters are asking anyone with information to call the Arson Tip Line at 410-222-TIPS.