State Fire Marshal Continues Investigation into Waldorf Fire; Smoke Alarm Activation Still Under Review
CHARLES COUNTY, MD (August 11, 2025) - The Office of the State Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause of the deadly multi-fatal fire in Waldorf that claimed the lives of six people, including four children, on Sunday morning. While investigators have found no evidence of arson at the scene, the cause remains under investigation.
As part of every origin and cause investigation, fire investigators work to determine whether smoke alarms were activated during the incident. This can be challenging because intense heat, heavy smoke, and the water used in firefighting operations often damage or destroy critical alarm components, including circuitry, housings, and batteries. In some cases, specialized analysis or reconstruction is required to look for signs of activation. Even if an alarm did sound, occupants or first responders may not have heard it due to factors such as closed doors, distance from the device, background noise, or the fire spreading rapidly and overpowering the sound.
"We must methodically examine every possible fire cause and contributing factor," said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. "Determining whether smoke alarms were sounding is not always straightforward, but it is essential to understanding how and why tragedies like this occur.
Deputy State Fire Marshals continue to work alongside the Charles County Sheriff's Office, which is standard operating procedure whenever a fatal fire occurs. The names, ages, and official causes of death for the victims will be released once the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's examinations are complete.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal urges Maryland residents to test their smoke alarms monthly and replace all alarms every ten years. For more information on smoke alarm safety and to request a smoke alarm for your home or family, visit: https://mdsp.maryland.gov/firemarshal/Pages/Get-Alarmed-Maryland.aspx
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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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