One dead in Carroll County house fire

by Jeff Jones
The Office of the State Fire Marshal, along with the Maryland State Police, are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a man in Carroll County Sunday afternoon.

WESTMINSTER, MD – State fire marshals are continuing their investigation into a fatal fire that claimed the life of a 62-year-old man in Carrol County on Sunday. According to investigators, just before 2:30 p.m. Ronald Joy, 62, and his wife, Kathy Joy, 56, was home when a fire broke out in the 2700 block of Littlestown Pike.

“Both escaped before Pleasant Valley Community Fire Company and surrounding departments arrived; however, Mr. Joy went back inside the home, hoping to locate family pets. Firefighters later located and rescued him inside the home,” the state fire marshals service said today. “He was treated by EMS and transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Mrs. Joy was also transported to the hospital and is currently in stable condition.”

Investigators believe the fire originated in a bathroom. Five dogs and an unknown number of cats were also in the home at the time of the fire. Police did not say how many survived or perished during the blaze.

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“This tragic incident is a heartbreaking but real example of why going back inside doesn’t guarantee that you and your family will make it back alive. Get out, stay out. Have working smoke alarms and an escape plan in place,” stated State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci


Investigators do not know if the smoke alarms which were present were properly functioning at the time of the fire.


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