A DEADLY fire burned down a home on Sunday, killing multiple children.
Two adults, alongside four children, were found dead in the Waldorf, Maryland house, as two people were able to get out unscathed by the blaze.
Emergency crews were called after reported entrapment[/caption]
Two adults were able to get out of the fire unharmed[/caption]
The blaze took place on Sunday morning[/caption]
At almost 9 a.m., emergency services were called for the fire with “reported entrapment.”
Police, who were some of the first officials on the scene, were told that possibly the other six residents were inside.
But officers were not able to get into the house due to “heavy smoke and flames,” according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
Photos from the scene show the family home completely engulfed in flames as black smoke pillared out.
After upgrading the fire’s severity to receive more resources, multiple fire departments arrived on the scene to put out the inferno and save the residents inside.
“Crews worked quickly to bring the fire under control while searching for victims,” a release said.
While the fire raged on, the other adult occupant of the house returned home as officials were on the scene.
In total, around 70 firefighters were needed to control the blaze.
One was hospitalized, and another treated on the scene.
Once emergency crews were able to get inside, they found the bodies of four children and two adults.
The names and ages of the victims have yet to be released pending identity confirmation from the medical examiner’s office, who did not immediately respond for comment.
Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire told WTOP-News that it was unclear if the home had working fire alarms, and that the fire took over an hour to get the flames under control.
He also told reporters that this was the most deadly fire in the state in over 10 years.
The outlet reported that heavy machinery needed to be brought to the scene to clear the debris.
Maryland State Fire Marshal statement
“A team of investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Charles County Sheriff’s Office worked throughout the day Sunday to determine the cause of a devastating Sunday morning fire in Waldorf that claimed six lives in the 3000 block of Declaration Court North.
At around 8:40 a.m., the first 911 calls were received reporting a house fire with reported entrapment. Charles County Sheriff’s Office was the first to arrive, and discovered that two adult occupants escaped unharmed*, and they were told that possibly up to six others were inside. Deputies attempted to enter the home but could not due to heavy smoke and flames. Within minutes, firefighters from the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments arrived and immediately upgraded the incident to two alarms. Crews worked quickly to bring the fire under control while searching for victims. Another adult occupant arrived at the home while the fire department was on the scene; however, tragically, two other adults and four children were found deceased inside the home.
Investigators were assisted by K9 “Taylor, the Calvert K-9 Search Team, and the Charles County Collapse Team, which assisted with shoring up the home due to extensive structural fire damage. While the cause remains under investigation, investigators determined the fire originated within an enclosed porch on the right side of the home. The identities and ages of the victims will be confirmed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who will also determine their exact cause of death.
“This is an unimaginable loss for the community,” said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. “Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this heartbreaking event. In times like this, we must come together to support one another and remember the importance of fire safety in our homes.”
A joint investigation is a standard operating procedure between the Office of the State Fire and the local authority having jurisdiction whenever a fatal fire occurs. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is our federal partner in fire and explosive investigations, and a joint investigation is routine in multi-fatal and high-dollar loss investigations.”
“This is an unimaginable loss for the community,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said in a release.
“Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this heartbreaking event.”
“In times like this, we must come together to support one another and remember the importance of fire safety in our homes.”
The cause of the blaze is still unknown, but fire marshal officials said there were no signs pointing to criminal activity.
Authorities also said that the fire started on an enclosed porch on the right side of the house.
“In Charles County, we do have fires every now and then, but with the loss of life, that this is … this is pretty devastating,” Charles County Volunteer Fire and EMS public information officer Bill Smith said, according to ABC News.
Waldorf is just over an hour drive away from Baltimore.
Heavy machinery had to be brought on the scene to clean up the devastation[/caption]
Investigators say no signs are pointing to criminal activity as the cause of the fire[/caption]
