Six people died in a two-alarm house fire in East Baltimore early Dec. 14. The incident continues a string of large fires in Baltimore City over the last eight days.
According to fire officials, the blaze began just before 5 a.m. in the 2300 block of Homewood Avenue. Three children and three adults, all family members succumbed to the fire.
Linda Smith, the grandmother of 3-year-old Darryon Faulkner, who died in the fire, said the family is struggling to grapple with the incident. “Right now … I am praying,” she said.
The boy’s great grandparents, mother and two sisters – just 9-years-old and 1-year-old – were also lost in the fire. In six days, Faulkner’s mother would have celebrated her 28th birthday six days after the fire, say family friends.
“People are in shock and saddened for the loss of this entire family,” said the Rev. Toni Draper, Smith’s pastor at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church. “It is a very sad situation.” Rev. Draper was driving to the Smith house to console the family when she spoke with the AFRO.
Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said flames and smoke had engulfed two row homes when firefighters arrived on the scene of the blaze. Strong wind gusts intensified the fire and forced crews to evacuate the buildings. Winds in the area were between 30 and 40 mph around the time, according to the National Weather Service. After suppressing the flames, respondents re-entered and located the bodies of the six victims. “It is preliminarily believed that the victims perished due to smoke inhalation and burns,” Cartwright said.
Occupants of the second dwelling were able to escape without injuries. The fire spread and caused lesser damage to at least two other homes nearby. Red Cross is assisting about 30 residents displaced by the blaze, according to recent reports.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but officials said the deceased did not have working smoke alarms. Officials expect to know estimated monetary damages in coming weeks.
Cartwright says the city fire department will host a “neighborhood sweep” Dec. 18 of the East Baltimore block damaged by the fire.
From 12-3 p.m., fire officials will go door to door checking fire alarms, installing free alarms and conducting fire safety inspections.
“We want to get into as many houses as we can,” Cartwright said.
All Baltimore residents can contact their local fire station for free smoke alarms, he added.
As the Christmas holiday approaches, Cartwright warns residents about potential fire hazards such as ornaments and trees. Inspect electrical lights for frayed electrical wires, he said, and regularly water live Christmas trees. “It’s a tragedy that six people their lives in a house fire, we want to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again,” said Fire Chief James S. Clack in a written statement.
The tragic fire brings this year’s fire-related death toll to 18.
