MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
MEBrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
Firefighters removed 2 occupants from their burning Temple
Hills home on Wednesday afternoon. Just
before 12:30 pm, November 15th, firefighters were alerted to a reported house
fire with two occupants trapped in the 5200 block of Lorraine Drive. First arriving units found a 1-story brick
rambler, with basement, with fire showing from the front.
Two neighbors had attempted entry into the structure to assist the occupants,
initially at the front door and then the rear door but each time they were
forced to retreat due to high heat and thick smoke. Another neighbor called 911 and provided
valuable information as to the possible location of the occupants. This information was relayed to responding
firefighters by dispatchers.
First arriving crews initiated a simultaneous search for the
trapped occupants and stretched hose lines into the structure to extinguish the
fire. An adult female and adult male were
quickly located and brought to the exterior where medics initiated
treatment. Both patients were found to
have no pulse and not breathing and quickly transported to a nearby hospital
while life support measures were being administered.
The fire was extinguished within 12 minutes.
Tragically, despite the very best efforts of firefighters,
medics and hospital staff both patients succumbed to injuries a short time
after arriving at the hospital. While we
will await confirmation from the Medical Examiner of the identity it is
believed the deceased are the normal occupants of the house: a female, 80ish
years of age, and her son, 60ish year old male.
Two of the first arriving firefighters sustained 2nd
degree burns to a small area of their body.
Both were taken to the Burn Unit at Medstar Washington Hospital
Center. The firefighters were treated and released.
Fire Investigators believe the fire originated in the
basement and extended to the first floor.
Fire loss to the structure and contents is estimated at $80,000. The status of a smoke alarm and exact cause
of the fire is undetermined.
Firefighter/Medics will return to the community Thursday
morning around 10:00 am going door-to-door and asking if they can check on residents smoke
alarms. If they find an alarm not
working or none present they will install one for them free of charge. Any Prince George’s County resident can call
311 and ask for a similar service. On
January 1, 2018, a law will require that all homes in the County that use a
battery operated smoke alarm to upgrade to a 10-year smoke alarm on all levels of their
home and inside every bedroom. Current
law only requires 1 smoke alarm for the entire house.
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