A father has died after re-entering his burning home in Hollywood, Maryland, to search for his 10-year-old child, who escaped the blaze safely. Investigators are looking at whether improperly disposed fireworks sparked the fire.
A father has died after re-entering his burning home in Hollywood, Maryland, at around 9.40pm on Sunday, in an attempt to find his 10-year-old child. The child escaped the blaze safely, authorities said, though the father was later found to have died inside the property.
Emergency crews – including firefighters from Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and units from neighbouring areas – arrived at the scene near Thornbury Drive and Sheffield Court to discover the two-storey property well ablaze. They were informed that the father had returned inside the house while trying to locate his child; once the fire had been brought under control, they discovered his body on the upper floor.
While the official cause remains unconfirmed, officials noted that ground-based sparkler fireworks had reportedly been set off by the family earlier that night. Once finished with, the spent items were placed in a bin on the rear deck – and it is this that investigators are now examining as a possible trigger for the fire.
Fire officials caution that used fireworks can stay hot enough to set off nearby flammable material long after they look to have gone out completely. Their advice is to soak all spent fireworks thoroughly in water and place them in a fireproof container outside until fully cool, before disposing of them.
Acting Maryland State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray offered his condolences to the family as they come to terms with the loss, and said the investigation into the fire’s cause was continuing. He urged people to remember that “fireworks don’t stop posing a risk when the show is over”, and encouraged the public to take time to properly soak and dispose of used fireworks and sparklers in order to help prevent similar tragedies.
