Child Dead, Another Critical in Md. House Fire

Jan. 19, 2011
Two other children were able to escape the burning home with two adults.
One child is dead, another is gravely injured after a fire ripped through a Brentwood home Wednesday morning, Prince George's County Firefighters said.

Mark Brady, spokesman for Prince George's County Fire and Rescue, confirms additional EMS units were called to the scene to assist multiple patients rescued from the burning home in the 4700 block of 40th Avenue. Brady says firefighters arrived at the scene around 4:00 a.m. where they found a 2 1/2 story wood frame home fully engulfed in flames.

According to Brady, firefighters made contact with a man and a woman in the front yard of the house, claiming twin 13-year-old girls were still trapped inside the burning home. Firefighters battled the flames and made entry into the house, where they found one of the girls on the first floor and later located the second victim on the second floor.

The 9-year-old has died at the hospital and a 13-year-old is in critical condition. Two other girls, ages four and 13, were able to escape the burning home with the two adults. Both children also had to be taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. Brady says the two other victims were also in critical condition when they were transported.

Officials say a total of seven people were injured in the fire, including the two parents who escaped the blaze with minor injuries. One firefighter was also taken to the hospital with burns to his feet. He has since been treated and released.

Brady says the family appeared to be asleep when the fire broke out.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Republished with permission of WUSA-TV.

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