The blaze began just after midnight at the Cypress Creek apartments on 16th Avenue, said Chauncey Bowers, a spokesman for the county's fire and emergency medical services department.
Bowers said firefighters were in the area responding to reports of a gas leak when they noticed smoke coming from the top floor of the three-story apartment building. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Police said the bodies of two adults were found after the fire was extinguished. The dead man was identified as Archie Everett Childs, 24, of Chillum. The female victim was not immediately identified. Both bodies were sent to the Maryland Medical Examiner for autopsies to determine the cause of death.
Eight adults and seven children were temporarily displaced, Bowers said. Damage was estimated at $5,000.
Anyone with information was asked to contact fire investigators at (301) 77-ARSON or county police at (301) 772-4925.
