A blaze that tore through Falkenhan’s Hardware store in Hampden during the early morning hours of Monday was caused by an electrical accident, investigators determined.
Investigators also announced Monday that an electrical accident caused a fire last month at a nearby historical building called The Castle.
Fire officials found no indication of foul play in either incident.
“The Baltimore City Fire Department Fire Investigation Bureau continues to encourage residents to practice electrical safety at home, including the careful use of appliances, outlets, and extension cords, particularly during the winter months when electrical usage increases,” the fire department wrote in a news release.
The Falkenhan’s space has been through several iterations of hardware stores since Towson Hardware opened there in 1890. The store would go through multiple changes to its name and ownership over the years. In 1998, Debbie Falkenhan took over the business from her father, Frank Falkenhan, according to The Baltimore Sun.
The shop has been a neighborhood go-to for many residents in need of tools and repair products. It’s also located next to the annual Miracle on 34th Street light display, a major Baltimore holiday tradition.
