Baltimore Neighbors Describe Fatal Fire Scene

May 24, 2009
According to Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright, when crews arrived they found the two-story brick home engulfed in flames.

BALTIMORE --

Bedash Latchman said he was asleep in bed about 8 a.m. Saturday when he woke up to the sounds of screaming. He told 11 News he looked outside his bedroom window to see what was going on. What he saw was smoke -- so much smoke that he and his mother called 911 for help.

Officials are looking for the cause of the fire the killed a woman in the 5200 block of Ashland Avenue near Erdman Avenue in Armstead Gardens.

According to Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright, when crews arrived they found the two-story brick home engulfed in flames and a 45-year-old man standing outside with first- and second-degree burns to his hands and face.

According to neighbors, "He thought when he ran out the house she was with him. But she wasn't." Officials said he told firefighters that his fiancee was still inside the burning house.

After a second search, a 51-year-old woman was found dead inside the home. It is not known how the victim died. Officials said the victim was reportedly staying with her fiance for the weekend and was found in a second-floor bathroom.

The pair's home was severely damaged in the fire.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but fire officials said at this point they have not found evidence of any working smoke alarms.

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