Latest news with #MarylandStateFireMarshal
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
4 kids, 2 adults dead after a house fire in southern Maryland
Six people are dead after a house fire broke out in Waldorf, Maryland, early Sunday morning, officials said. Around 8:40 a.m., the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and several surrounding departments responded to a report of a dwelling fire with entrapment. The victims were two adults and four children, according to officials. There were nine residents who lived at the house; one adult escaped and two others were not home at the time of the fire. The origin of the fire remains under investigation, but there was no evidence of a criminal act, the Maryland State Fire Marshal said in a post on X. MORE: 10th victim dies from devastating fire at assisted-living facility in Massachusetts "In Charles County, we do have fires every now and then, but with the loss of life, that this is ... this is pretty devastating," said Bill Smith, Charles County Volunteer Fire and EMS public information officer.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Maryland fire deaths drop 13% in 2024, report shows
Fire deaths in Maryland dropped by 13% in 2024, according to the Annual Maryland Fire Fatality Report. The report by the Maryland State Fire Marshal gives an overview of fire-related fatalities across the state. Maryland recorded 73 deaths from fires in 2024, a 13.1% decrease from the 84 deaths in 2023. The deaths occurred across 67 fatal fires statewide. Where did most fatal fires occur? Residential fires accounted for 79% of the fatalities, with most incidents occurring in a bedroom or living space. Baltimore City reported the highest number of fire deaths with 19 fatalities in 15 fires, the same total as 2023. Baltimore County followed with 13 deaths in 13 fires, up from 11 deaths in 2023. What were the leading causes of fatal fires in 2024? Smoking materials were the leading cause of fatal fires in 2024, attributed to a total of 10 fatal fires. Transportation-related incidents resulted in eight deaths. Seven of the fatal fires were caused by electrical malfunctions, and cooking-related incidents were attributed to five fatal fires. Calvert, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset and Talbot counties reported no fire deaths in 2024. Who was most at risk? Adults over 70 represented 37% of fire victims, while those aged 50 to 69 accounted for 31.5% of deaths. 60% of fatalities were men, and 40% were women. The winter months proved most dangerous, with 53% of deaths occurring during the season. Most fatal fires occurred between midnight and 8 a.m., when victims were most likely sleeping, according to the report. March was the month with the highest amount of fire fatalities The presence of smoke alarms According to the report, working smoke alarms were present in only 20 fatal fires. Nine fires occurred in homes with no alarms at all, while six additional fires involved smoke alarms that were present but not functioning. In 20 cases, investigators could not determine smoke alarm status, and 14 fires occurred in structures too damaged to assess alarm presence. "A functioning smoke alarm often marks the difference between life and death, providing early warning and critical time to escape," Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in the report. In 2024, Maryland launched "Get Alarmed Maryland," an online portal allowing residents to request smoke alarms through the state fire marshal's office. The program includes a tracking system to collect data on installations and alarm performance. Mowbray says the data will be used to identify areas most in need of fire safety outreach.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lightning strike causes Harford house fire, kills two dogs
HARFORD, Md. (DC News Now) — Two dogs have died after a Harford home burst into flames after being struck by lightning Friday, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company, Harford County Department of Emergency Services, and surrounding fire departments responded at 6:10 p.m. to reports of a house fire in the 2300 block of Shuster Road. Person dead after tree falls on person's car in Fort Hunt Heavy flames and thick smoke were billowing from the home as the fire rapidly spread throughout the house. Fire crews used numerous tankers, heavy machinery, and assistance from the home's fire sprinklers. Firefighters say the flames most likely started in the attic, caused by a lightning strike. Surrounding neighbors claimed they saw, heard, and felt a lightning strike. According to firefighters, no one was home at the time of the fire, but two dogs were killed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
