MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
A PEPCO crew is being credited by firefighters for
extinguishing a fire that may have jeopardized a sleeping toddlers life. At around 9:00 this morning PEPCO crews
arrived at 2605 Ritchie-Marlboro Road in Upper Marlboro to perform scheduled
work. The residence is a 2-story,
occupied, single family home that is undergoing heavy renovation.
A mother had left the residence to walk her older children down
their very long driveway to a bus stop located on Ritchie-Marlboro Road. While she was away from the house the PEPCO
crew noticed a fire in the first floor kitchen.
The fire appears to have started in a trash can and had already extended
into the cabinets and propane stove area.
The fire was generating a large amount of smoke filling the house and flames could be seen
from the outside.
Their dispatcher was notified and without concern for their
own welfare the PEPCO crew entered the home and yelled out several times to see
if anyone was in the house. Hearing no
response they used a dry chemical extinguisher from their truck, entered the
kitchen area and were successful in knocking down the bulk of the fire. While a small fire still burned, the large
amount of toxic smoke had stopped filling the house. A few moments later the mother arrived home, ran
upstairs to retrieve the 3-year-old and everyone remained outside until the arrival
of the Fire/EMS Department.
Firefighters arrived soon thereafter and completed the extinguishment. Fire/EMS Department incident commanders
commended the PEPCO crew for their bravery, fast Fire Department notification and
quick thinking for knocking down the fire and smoke. Firefighters believe that if the fire was
allowed to burn a larger fire would have developed very quickly and the thick toxic smoke would
have filled the house jeopardizing the life of the toddler. No injuries were reported.
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