A loyal canine died saving his owner from a two-alarm blaze which broke out in their Street home late Sunday night, fire officials said.
Andrew T. Schmidt, 79, was alone in his Boyd Road home shortly after 11:15 p.m. Sunday night when his dog Shamus alerted him to a fire which had broken out in the kitchen. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Schmidt narrowly escaped and walked barefoot to a neighbor’s house approximately 500 yards away, who called 911.
The first fire department reported the fire had spread through much of the home, with high wind gusts accelerating the fire. According to the state fire marshal’s office, responders initially believed Schmidt was still inside the home, until he walked back up the road and confirmed that he was the only occupant of the home.
Battling high winds and wet, muddy ground, approximately 75 firefighters from eight local fire departments brought the fire under control in about 60 minutes. Damages are estimated at $100,000 to the structure and $100,000 to its contents.
Among the losses was Shamus, who did not escape the blaze. The home was not equipped with a smoke alarm.
Schmidt was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview’s Burn Center for smoke inhalation and minor burns. According to the state fire marshal’s office, he remained in critical condition at the hospital Monday afternoon.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but is expected to be determined within the next week.
Those responding to the fire included members of the Darlington, Jarrettsville, Level, Norrisville, Whiteford, Aberdeen, Bel Air, and Delta-Cardiff fire companies, as well as the Maryland State Police.
Andy Schmidt was my scout master when i was a kid, he’s the best kind of human being ever. He was a faithful vender at all the Bel Air Farmer’s Market days, selling his flowers, plants and shrubs. Such a tragedy for Andy, to lose his dog and his home…and now he’s fighting for his life. Very sad. I hope some neighbor buried Shamus.
You are definately speaking the truth Todd. Andy is a great guy. Andy was a business partner in the antique business and true friend of my late father and mother. I remember hunting on his property as a teenager. It is a shame for his loss of his K9 companion (who saved his life) and the loss of his home. I am praying that Andy will have a speedy recovery.