CHARLES COUNTY, MD – An elderly man was found dead during a brush fire at 11560 Acton Lane in Waldorf on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office are examining the circumstances of his death.
On Tuesday, just before 4:00 p.m., firefighters from Charles and Prince George’s County, joined by Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies, responded to a reported brush fire. They discovered the fire had spread to a vacant mobile home on the property, where they found the deceased man amidst the debris.
Deputy State Fire Marshals suspect the victim to be 94-year-old homeowner Donald L. Halter. Neighbors reported that Halter frequently burned trash and brush and was seen on a tractor earlier in the day.
Maryland residents are reminded of the ongoing burn ban, prohibiting open-air burning, including campfires. Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray expressed sympathy for Halter’s family and emphasized the dangers of outdoor burning during hot and dry conditions.