Around 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, May 30, 2010,  Firefighters were dispatched to a reported dwelling fire in the 400 block of Highland Drive in the Edgewater area of Anne Arundel County. The first unit to arrive on the scene reported heavy fire throughout, a one story, single family dwelling. At that ti...me a second alarm was requested, and an interior fire attack was initiated by the first arriving crews. In all, it took 87 firefighters from Anne Arundel County, Annapolis City, and the Naval Academy Fire Departments more than an hour to bring the three (3) alarm incident under control. An occupant who escaped from the home confirmed to the first arriving crews that there were two people trapped in the basement area of the home. At that time, crews attempted to gain access to the basement area of the home but were forced from the dwelling do to deteriorating conditions. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters and investigators working in the basement area of the home did locate the bodies of the two missing occupants. Because of the condition of the bodies, the names of the victims and the immediate cause of death are being withheld pending positive identification and the results of the autopsies that are being conducted by the State Medical Examiner. In addition, the occupant of the home who escaped prior to arrival of the fire department (a 70 year old female), suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident and was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center via ground ambulance for treatment. There was also one firefighter injured (a 23 year old male) while fighting the blaze. He also was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis via ground ambulance to be evaluated for his injuries. The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation; however, investigators estimate damages to be in excess of $200,000. The Red Cross was called to the scene, but it is unclear if they will be providing any assistance.

STORY AND PHOTO'S COURTESY OF AACO