Person found dead after Christmas Day house fire in Harford County
HARFORD COUNTY -- One person was found dead after a house fire in Harford County early Christmas morning, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal (MSFM).
Officials said firefighters responded to the 200 block of Doncaster Road in Joppa around 7 a.m. Wednesday for a fire with a person trapped.
Once on the scene, firefighters found a home with significant fire and smoke visible from the outside. According to MSFM, the blaze was under control within 30 minutes.
A body found in the basement of the home was identified as a 69-year-old man, according to officials. He is believed to be one of the residents. However, his official identification and cause of death are pending with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
According to officials, six other family members lived in the home.
"I, and every member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, extend our sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends. It is a heartbreaking day for Harford County,' said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray.
Local reaction
Neighbors said it was a quiet morning and they were shocked to see first responders rush to their street.
"Started hearing sirens and seeing lights outside the window. I came out and saw a large amount of fire trucks, so I walked out into my yard and was able to see the house was on fire, large amounts of smoke," said Scott, who lives down the street. "I feel bad for the family. It's something you never want to see or have happen on Christmas morning, but any morning, but it was a surprise to see that go down."
Recent Fires
This month, Baltimore County saw a fatal house fire that also injured one person and two animals.
The early morning fire occurred in Catonsville. Neighbors told WJZ that one of the victims owns Shirley's Family Diner in Catonsville and that the two victims are related.
Another fire in Baltimore's Greektown neighborhood left a woman dead and several residents displaced in mid-November.
In early December, firefighters tackled a massive fire at Camp Small, a wood recycling facility near I-83. The fire smoldered for days after it was contained to a small area, officials said.
the Northeastern U.S. region has been experiencing ongoing drought conditions since mid-October, which can often contribute to an elevated fire risk.
Fire safety
Ahead of the holidays, Annapolis Fire officials shared the following fire safety tips:
- Check Your Smoke Alarms - Test all smoke alarms to ensure they work properly and replace batteries when needed
- Practice an Escape Plan - Make sure everyone in your household has a fire escape plan and designated meeting spot in case of emergencies
- Cook Safely - Stay in the kitchen while cooking and keep flammable items away from the stove
It's still unclear what started the Christmas Day fire, but investigators have been unable to locate working smoke alarms in the home.
Annapolis Fire told WJZ that electrical problems cause about one-third of Christmas tree fires, and heat sources too close to the tree cause over 20% of fires.
