Press Release - January 12, 2007

Date:
January 12, 2007

Contact:
Jeffrey McMahon, CFI, CFPS - Fire Marshal
Phone: (410) 632-5666 Ext. 1; Email: jmcmahon@wcfmo.org

Two Showell Youth Die In Early Morning Fire

“An early morning house fire has claimed the lives of two Worcester County youths. The fire was reported at 01:53 hours at 9719 Peerless Road in Showell, Maryland. Upon the first arriving firefighters the house was reported as fully involved. Volunteer fire companies from Showell, Bishopville and Berlin responded to the alarm. A twelve year old female was removed from the house during early fire suppression efforts, but was pronounced dead at the scene. The body of a three year old male was found after the fire was extinguished. The two youth’s bodies have been taken to the Maryland Medical Examiners Office in Baltimore for autopsy and identification.

Nine family members resided in the two story wood framed balloon constructed single family home. The family was Jeffrey and Denine DuPont and their seven children. Males ages two, three, five, eight and seventeen and two females both age twelve. The names of the children are not being released at this time. All family members were transported to area hospitals and later released. A Berlin Firefighter was treated to Atlantic General Hospital for injuries from a fall and has been released.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, the investigation has determined a portable kerosene heater located in a first floor bedroom was the heat source for the fire. Although the clearance of the kerosene heater from combustibles was not appropriate, preliminary test reveal the kerosene heater may have been filled with gasoline. The items have been sent to a laboratory for determination of the kerosene heater fuel. Functioning smoke alarms were not found in the residence.”

SCENE PHOTOS
(Photos By: Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Korb, Jr., Deputy Sheriff Andy Magee)