A possible power surge in Aberdeen sparked fires that damaged two homes and killed at least two cats this afternoon.
The fires happened at the Spring Valley Estates mobile home park off of Old Post Road, according to a notice of investigation from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's office.
The first fire was reported at 10:35 a.m., and it destroyed a mobile home on Riddle Drive that had "extreme hoarding conditions," said the fire marshal's office.
Two cats died in the fire, and up to three more may have died. The exact deaths could not be confirmed "due to the hoarding conditions."
The conditions "made it extremely difficult and dangerous to extinguish the fire," according to the statement.
The home and all its contents are being considered a complete loss, valued at about $50,000.