Md. Public Works Employee Saves Residents From Fire

A woman and her 80-year-old father have a Frederick city public works employee to thank for getting them out of their burning Quinn Orchard Road home early Saturday.

The worker, who has not been identified, was driving past the engulfed house in the 5900 block of Quinn Orchard Road, when he stopped and banged on the door to alert the occupants, Jeanine Aubertin said.

"He saved my life," Aubertin said as she stood outside her house just hours after the 1 a.m. blaze. "I'm in shock. This was my worst nightmare."

She was hoping to learn the name of the public works employee so she could thank him for his actions.

"I talked to him when he was here, but I was in a fog," she said.

The fire, which started in the attic, was brought under control in 55 minutes by 35 firefighters, according to Fire Marshal Mike Dmuchowski. First on the scene were crews from the Spring Ridge Fire Station.

Aubertin said her father, Bill Aubertin, tried to go back inside the house and had to be restrained. He was treated for smoke inhalation at the hospital and released, she said.

The two share the ranch-style house that the family built in 1978.

Aubertin said her father lives on the main floor and she lives in a basement apartment.

"I was sleeping when I heard the smoke alarm," she said. "I was sound asleep. It took a minute."

When she heard the banging on the door, she woke up and ran outside.

The fire was in the back of the house, she said.The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Dmuchowski said.

"I have no idea why I have no home," Aubertin said.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, she was frantically searching for three of her five cats -- one of them, Stevee, is blind. By afternoon, she had found them and had all five safely secured.

One had hidden under a bathtub and the others were out in the yard.

"I just wanted my boys," Aubertin said. "They're scared, but they're OK."

The damage was estimated at $250,000 for the house and $25,000 for the contents, Dmuchowski reported.

Aside from a few photographs taken off the walls and some other heirlooms, Aubertin said the house was destroyed.

"I have nothing," she said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service