A Maryland father lost his life after rushing back into his burning home to rescue his 10-year-old child, unaware the child had already escaped safely, authorities said.
The tragic incident unfolded at about 9:40 p.m. Sunday in the 22800 block of Thornbury Drive in Hollywood, St. Mary’s County.
Sequence of Events
Earlier in the evening, the family had celebrated with ground-based sparklers. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the used sparklers were later discarded in a trash can on the home’s screened-in rear deck.
Investigators believe the sparklers may have remained hot enough to ignite combustible material inside the trash can, causing a fire that quickly spread through the two-story house.
As flames engulfed the home, the family evacuated outside. During the confusion, the father believed his 10-year-old child was still trapped inside the burning house.
Without hesitation, he ran back into the home in an attempt to rescue the child.
Moments later, firefighters from the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and neighboring agencies arrived to find the house heavily involved in fire. They were informed that a child was believed to be trapped and that the child’s father had already entered the home to search for them.
As firefighters battled the blaze, officials confirmed the 10-year-old child had actually escaped safely and was outside the home without injuries.
After the fire was extinguished, crews searched the residence and found the father’s body on the second floor.
The victim’s identity has not been released.
“Our hearts are with this family as they face an unimaginable loss,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the exact cause of the fire, including whether the discarded sparklers retained enough heat to ignite the trash. Officials are urging residents to soak used fireworks and sparklers thoroughly before disposing of them, warning they can remain hot long after celebrations end.
