State Fire Marshal Continues Investigation Into Separate Carroll County Fatal Fires
CARROLL COUNTY, MD (February 20, 2023) - State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci is issuing a call for Marylanders to check their smoke alarms after investigating two fatal fires in Carroll County within hours of each other Monday.
Just after 8:30 a.m., Westminster Volunteer Fire Department and nearby departments were called for a reported fire at the Boston Inn at 533 Baltimore Boulevard after other guests observed smoke coming from one of the rooms. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a nearly self-extinguished fire and a 48-year-old male victim inside. The victim was pronounced deceased, and Deputy State Fire Marshals investigated the cause. Investigators believe the fire occurred hours earlier before the other guests called 911. The victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He will be positively identified, and the official cause of death will be determined.
At around 2:20 p.m., Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company and surrounding departments responded to 541 Daisy Drive for a dwelling fire involving a two-story, middle-of-the-group townhouse with possible entrapment. Firefighters arrived within minutes and learned a mother and her three-year-old daughter had escaped; however, the grandmother was trapped upstairs. Firefighters entered the home and located the 68-year-old victim. Life-saving efforts were started, and she was transported to Carroll Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Investigators concluded the fire originated on the second floor, and the cause remains under investigation.
Deputy State Fire Marshals have confirmed both to be unrelated. Still, they are rare but tragic coincidences, and they have no evidence of arson in either of the investigations. In both cases, smoke alarms were present. However, for unknown reasons, at this time, neither was activated.
"You only have minutes from the sound of the first smoke alarm to escape a fire," said State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci. "Please, make sure you check your smoke alarms today. The sooner you hear an alarm, the sooner you can get out, and the better chance you and your family have to escape. It can be a matter of life or death for you and your loved ones," stated Geraci.
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 Boston Inn - Photo Credit Carroll Fire News (FB)
 Daisy Lane, Taneytown - Photo Credit - Carroll Fire News (FB)
The
Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of
State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and
explosion through a comprehensive program of education,
inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more
information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: Maryland State Fire Marshal and/or our Facebook Page.
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