Corriganville, MD – Flames swallowed a two-story house in minutes on Friday, drawing a three-alarm response to a Corriganville address where firefighters later found a woman dead inside as investigators launched a joint probe into the cause.
Fire erupts before noon
At 11:53 a.m., crews from Corriganville Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding companies rushed to 11609 Proenty Road NW after a 911 call reported a house fire with possible entrapment. Firefighters arrived within minutes to heavy fire conditions throughout the home. The blaze escalated to three alarms, bringing dozens of firefighters and taking nearly an hour to bring under control. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.
Victim pending identification
After extinguishment, responders discovered the body of an adult inside. Authorities said the victim has been preliminarily identified as a 69-year-old female occupant of the residence. Her remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for positive identification and determination of cause and manner of death.
Investigators report no alarms sounding
The origin and cause remain under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Combined County Criminal Investigations Unit, with assistance from the Maryland State Police Crime Scene Unit and K9 “Blondie,” a standard procedure whenever a fatal fire occurs. Upon arrival, no smoke alarms were reported sounding, and investigators said they found no evidence of alarms in the home.
“You only have seconds to escape a fire,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said, urging residents to test alarms immediately. “The sooner you hear an alarm, the sooner you can get out, and the better chance you and your family have to escape.”
Key Points
- Three-alarm fire broke out at 11:53 a.m. Friday at 11609 Proenty Road NW in Corriganville.
- Adult female victim, preliminarily identified as 69, found deceased inside; identification pending OCME.
- Investigators found no working smoke alarms; cause and origin remain under investigation.