BGE Investigates Bolton Hill Power Surge Causing House Fire and Appliance Damage
A power surge in Bolton Hill, Maryland, on August 25 led to a house fire and widespread damage to appliances across approximately 15 homes, as well as a local nursery and church. Sara Serino and Jamie Morganstern's home experienced a loud pop and partial power loss before a fire erupted, destroying their children's bedrooms and a third-floor bathroom, rendering their home uninhabitable for an estimated year. Residents reported various appliances, from toasters to computers, being fried. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE) representatives, including senior engineering manager Malcom Lewis, stated at a community meeting that their investigation points to a missing, possibly tampered with, 60-foot-long neutral wire as the likely cause. This neutral wire is crucial for balancing voltage in the electrical circuit. BGE has since installed power quality monitors and is conducting a reliability investigation, though community members expressed ongoing anger and fear regarding the incident. 
