Press Release - March 29, 2004

Date:
March 29, 2004

Contact:
Robert Korb, Jr., CFI, CFPS - Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: (410) 632-5666 Ext.4; Email: rkorb@co.worcester.md.us

CLOTHES DRYER CATCHES FIRE - FAMILY OF FOUR SAFELY ESCAPES

The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated a residential house fire located at 48 Beaconhill Road in Ocean Pines shortly after 11:30 PM yesterday. The home was occupied by Theodore Wright, his wife Patricia and their two sons. Mr. Wright smelled smoke coming from the first floor of the two story home when he began to investigate the odor. When Mr. Wright began to search further, he noticed smoke and fire was visible from the rear of a clothes dryer in a laundry closet. The Wright family quickly escaped through a rear door to the home and ran to the neighbors house across the street to dial 9-1-1. Mr. Wright re-entered the structure with only the protection of a garden hose and began extinguishing the fire. The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department quickly responded and extinguished the fire completely. Fire department personnel remained on the scene for approximately 1 hour performing overhaul operations. The fire is listed as accidental and was caused by a malfunction in the clothes dryer. No injuries were reported.

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For further information, the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office can be reached by calling 410-632-5666 or on the web at www.wcfmo.org.

Scene Photographs
(By: Robert Korb, Jr. - Deputy Fire Marshal)