From the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal:
HARFORD COUNTY, MD (February 23, 2011) – Deputy State Fire Marshals are currently investigating the cause of a fire that caused serious injuries to a Bel Air resident. Kathleen M. Ellis, 44, was transported to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center for smoke inhalation and thermal burn injuries received in her home located in the 1200 block of Kirby Circle in Bel Air, MD.
Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to her home in response to a 911 call that had disconnected. Upon arrival, deputies found smoke conditions and requested fire department response, then entered and located the unconscious victim in a second floor bedroom. She was removed to the exterior and CPR was initiated as units responded from Bel Air and Abingdon Fire Departments. Ms. Ellis was transported by ambulance to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center where she remains in critical condition.
Firefighters contained the fire to the room of origin within ten minutes after arrival.
Damages are estimated at $40,000 for structure and contents. No other injuries were reported during the incident. Investigators have determined the fire originated in a second-floor bedroom. The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.
There was another injury to an EMS provider on this incident. He slepped and fell on the ice.
Slipped*
Great job by the Deputies first on scene. They risked their own safety to go into a house with heavy smoke conditions, locate the pulseless victim, and initiate the CPR.
Just found out on the news that the now deceased woman called in to say she had been raped and then the phone went dead. Poor soul. So a rapist/murderer has been running around for days and the public wasn’t. Alerted. Puts the vandalism with forklift in perspective. Are there going to be fifty comments of outrage about this real tragedy?