Early-morning fire severely damages Pasadena home

A home in Pasadena was burned nearly to the ground early yesterday by a raging fire that was reported in a cell-phone call by a motorist on Route 100, several blocks away.

Damage to the two-story home in the 200 block of Ember Drive off Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard was estimated at $175,000, with loss of the contents estimated at an additional $75,000, a county Fire Department spokesman said.

The department received the call reporting the fire at 12: 56 a.m. While firefighters had to ferry water about a mile from the nearest hydrant, the blaze engulfed the structure. Little remained by the time the blaze was declared under control at 2: 13 a.m.

No one was at the house, owned by Janice Hunt, when the fire was reported. The cause was being investigated.