CASCADE, Maryland — A team of Deputy State Fire Marshals are actively investigating a deadly fire that claimed the life of a 2-year-old in Washington County, Maryland.
On Friday, Fire and EMS were dispatched to the 25600 block of Military Road in Highfield-Cascade, Maryland just before 6:30 p.m. for reports of a house fire.
The Smithburg Community Volunteer Fire Company along with other departments in the area, coming from as far away as Pennsylvania responded to the scene. When firefighters got there, they discovered the home had been converted into apartments. A 24-year-old woman and a 1-year-old had escaped the flames, but were hurt. The woman and other tenants told firefighters that another child was still inside.
The fire was upgraded to a second alarm to get more help to the fire scene. In total about 75 firefighters responded, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
The injured woman was flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment. The 1-year-old child was taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center. The severity of their injuries is not known at this time.
Firefighters on scene later the second child, a 2-year-old, dead inside the second-floor apartment. The Fire Marshal has not identified the child, but investigators believe the 2-year-old was a resident of the apartment where the other family members were injured.
"My heart aches after learning of another devastating fire, and every member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal extend our deepest condolences to the family," said acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray.
Investigators are still working to figure out the cause of the blaze. The Fire Marshal's Office reports there were no working smoke alarms inside the home.
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