1 dead in Millersville fire
Woman was home alone; cause of blaze unknown
A 77-year-old woman was killed Friday morning in Millersville during a house fire on Generals Highway, Anne Arundel County Fire Department officials said.
Thewoman, whohas yet tobe identified by authorities, was the third fire-related death this year in the county.
Firefighterswere called to ahousein the 800block of Generals Highway by a 911call from neighbors about 10:35 a.m. for a working fire, said Capt. Erik Kornmeyer. They arrived in about five minutes to find the first and second floors of the building engulfed in smoke and flames with reports that onewomanwas trapped inside.
The woman was removed from the home and pronounced dead on the scene, Kornmeyer said
Kornmeyer said there were three other residents of the home, including two adults and a child, but they were not
present at the time of the fire. The Red Cross has been called to assist them, he said.
After the woman was taken out of the home, firefighters decided to extinguish the fire from the exterior of the home
because of the rapid-fire spread and structure collapse. One firefighter suffered minor burns to his ears and was taken to Johns Hopkins Burn Center at Bayview Medical Center.
The fire was under control before 1 p.m. Friday, but Kornmeyer said it would be several hours before they could fully extinguish it. Because the area where the home is located does not have fire hydrants, Kornmeyer said the department had to use a tanker force to bringwater to the location.
It’s unclear what caused the fire, or whether smoke detectors did or did not work as it began, Kornmeyer said. He urged all Anne Arundel residents to check all smoke detectors monthly.
Generals Highway was closed between Veterans Highway and Millersville Road during the firefighting efforts. Because there are no fire hydrants in the area, tanker trucks shuttled water from a source on Veterans Highway. Eventually, 45 firefighters and six tankers were involved in the shuttle operation.
Other fire fatalities this year were Kathleen Cecilia Jepson, 69, of Cape St. Claire. She died in a May house fire. Investigators determined the accidental fire started on the stovetop and extended to cabinets.
Margaret AnnMogavero, 78, of Pasadena died in a house fire the same month. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Firefighters reminded people to check smoke alarms each month. If youare unable to afford smoke alarms, please contact the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Office of Public Education at 410-222-8303.