A father died Sunday night after rushing back into a burning home in Hollywood, Md., desperately searching for his 10-year-old child. The child escaped unharmed, but firefighters later found the man’s body on the second floor after bringing the blaze under control. The fire broke out around 9:40 p.m. near Thornbury Drive and Sheffield Court in St. Mary’s County.
Fire crews from the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and neighboring companies arrived to find a two-story house already engulfed in flames. They were told the father had gone back inside to look for the child, according to WMAR2News. After knocking down the fire, crews searched the home, discovering the father on the second floor and confirming that the 10-year-old had made it out safely.
Spent Sparklers Are A Suspected Trigger
Investigators are looking at whether spent, ground-based sparklers tossed into a trash can on a screened rear deck may have reignited and touched off the blaze, according to FOX 5 DC. Officials say even used fireworks can hold enough residual heat to ignite nearby combustible materials long after they seem to be out.
Fire Marshal Urges Extra Caution
In a statement to CBS News Baltimore, Acting Maryland State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said, “Our hearts are with this family as they face an unimaginable loss.” He urged residents to soak used fireworks and place them in a noncombustible container outdoors so they can cool completely before being thrown away.
The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal warns that spent pyrotechnics can stay hot enough to start fires and recommends dousing them in water and storing them in a metal container until fully cooled before disposal. More safety tips and rules on fireworks are available from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Across the July Fourth holiday weekend, fireworks-related incidents have been stacking up. A deadly explosion in Chino, California, was reported by NBC Los Angeles, and an unrelated house fire in Silver Spring that investigators say may have involved fireworks was covered by NBC Washington.
State marshals and local investigators say the probe into the Hollywood house fire is ongoing, and officials have not yet released the father’s name. The agencies plan to provide updates as the investigation moves forward, according to CBS News Baltimore.
