MD Fire Kills 6 Residents, Including 4 Children

WALDORF, MD — A weekend house fire in Waldorf killed four children and two adults, while two adults in the home at the time escaped the blaze, the state fire marshal's office said.

The Sunday morning fire in the 3000 block of Declaration Court North was reported at 8:40 a.m., according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. Calls to 911 reported up to six residents trapped inside the two-story house.

Deputies tried to enter the home, but could not because of the heavy smoke and flames. Firefighters from the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments arrived in minutes and upgraded the incident to two alarms.

Another adult occupant arrived at the home while the fire department was on the scene, but the six victims were found deceased inside the home.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, investigators said the fire originated within an enclosed porch on the right side of the home.

Authorities have found no evidence of arson at the scene, but the cause remains under investigation.

"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.

As part of every origin and cause investigation, fire investigators work to determine whether smoke alarms were activated. 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.

The identities and ages of the victims will be confirmed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who will also determine their exact cause of death.

"This is an unimaginable loss for the community," said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. "Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this heartbreaking event. In times like this, we must come together to support one another and remember the importance of fire safety in our homes."

Investigators were assisted by K9 "Taylor, the Calvert K-9 Search Team, and the Charles County Collapse Team, which helped shore up the home due to extensive structural fire damage.

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