5 Md. Police Officers Hospitalized after Extinguishing House Fire
What to know
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Five Hagerstown police officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after extinguishing a kitchen fire before firefighters arrived during the city’s Mummer’s Day Parade.
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One officer was later transferred to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center for further treatment.
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Hours later in Frederick County, a second fire caused a town home to collapse and displaced nine residents.
Two fires in Western Maryland this weekend resulted in a total of five police officers being taken to the hospital, the displacement of nine people and the collapse of a town home.
The first fire occurred around 5:23 p.m. Saturday at a two-story town home in Hagerstown. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshall, Hagerstown Police were working a post during the Mummer’s Day Parade near East Lee Street when they were alerted of a possible fire at a home on the street.
After confirming the presence of the fire, officers forced entry into the home and extinguished it using a fire extinguisher before the local fire department arrived, the fire marshal said.
Five Hagerstown City Police Department officers were transported to Meritus Medical Center for smoke inhalation, and one officer was later transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center for additional treatment, according to the fire marshal.
The fire marshal said the fire occurred in the kitchen of the home when vegetable oil on a stovetop accidentally ignited.
Hours later, around 12:51 a.m. Sunday, fire crews in Frederick County were alerted to the 1600 block of Jennings Court for the report of a fire at a town home.
Fire officials said that upon arrival, there was heavy fire showing from the home, which was located in the middle of a row of town homes. The blaze went to a second alarm, officials said.
While crews worked to control the blaze and see if it had spread to adjoining homes, the rear of the burning home collapsed, according to fire officials.
Around 2:03 a.m., Frederick fire officials reported that the entire town home had collapsed and that the fire had extended to both neighboring residences.
All occupants were out of the structure before it collapsed. One person was evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused to be transported to the hospital, officials said.
Fire officials said a total of five adults and four children were displaced because of the fire and are being assisted by Red Cross.
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