Baltimore, Md. (March 17, 2009) -- On Monday, March 16, 2009 firefighters respond to house fire that claimed the lives of an elderly woman and middle aged man believed to be mother and son.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., the Baltimore City Fire firefighters responded to the 500 block of Overdale Road in the Ten Hills Community of Southwest Baltimore for a report of a house. Upon arrival units found a one story cottage with fire and heavy smoke emitting from the side of the house.
Firefighters established a water supply; gained entry advanced a hose line into the dwelling to extinguish a bedroom fire. Simultaneously other firefighters performed search and rescue along with ventilation operations when they uncovered the bodies of an elderly woman and middle aged man unconscious and non-responsive in cardiac arrest. Both victims were rescued from the fire and advanced life support care was administered by on scene paramedics. The victims were transported to St. Agnes Hospital where they were both pronounced.
It is preliminarily believed that both victims perished due to thermal injuries sustained in the fire however fire investigators are awaiting the State Medical Examiners report which will provide the official determination into the actual cause of death.
The preliminary investigation indicated that they were no obvious signs of smoke alarms in the dwelling which may have provided additional time for the victims to escape the fire. Having working smoke alarms and a home evacuation plan will increase you and your family's chances of survival by fifty percent.
Baltimore City firefighters will distribute "After the Fire" brochures and install smoke alarms in the 500 block of Overdale Road at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.
