CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Two men were found dead in the remains of a house fire early Thursday morning in Faulkner, as investigators continue to probe the cause of the fatal blaze.
At approximately 6:15 a.m., the Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department, along with nearby units, responded to a reported structure fire at 9690 Brunswick Road. When crews arrived, they found a two-story home fully engulfed in flames and received word that the homeowners were unaccounted for.
Emergency responders battled severe hoarding conditions inside the residence, which hampered firefighting efforts. Fifty firefighters were deployed to the scene and took nearly two hours to get the fire under control.
The bodies of 62-year-old Robert Bowling and 70-year-old Kim Dickens were later discovered on the second floor of the charred home. According to officials, the two men were the homeowners. A tenant who lived on the first floor was able to escape the fire without injury.
Authorities estimate the fire caused $175,000 in structural damage and an additional $75,000 in damage to the home’s contents. Smoke alarms were located in the residence, but officials have not yet determined if they were functioning at the time of the fire.
Fire origin remains under investigation
The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore to determine the precise cause of death. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.
Key Points
- Two men were found dead after a house fire in Faulkner early Thursday morning
- Hoarding conditions inside the residence made firefighting efforts more difficult
- Damage is estimated at $250,000; cause of fire remains under investigation
Officials have not released additional details as investigators continue examining the scene.
