6 Fire Deaths Noted During Fire Prevention Week In Anne Arundel

MILLERSVILLE, MD – Anne Arundel County fire officials have tips to help your family be safe as the department marks Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-13. Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice, authorities say.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” which works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to prevent and quickly and safely escape a home fire.

“Tragically, six Anne Arundel County residents have died in four fires in 2018 in spite of the homes having working smoke alarms,” said Fire Chief Allan Graves in a news release. “Knowing what to do in that critical time when your smoke alarm is sounding is crucial to your ability to escape safely,” he said.

The most recent fire death in the county happened in a July 15 house fire in Pasadena. Brenda Chavis, 52, died from her injuries after she was trapped in the home in the 3400 block of Brookhaven Road.

The other fatal fires in the county this year are:

• June 11: A house fire in the 1100 block of Waterbury Heights Road in Crownsville killed Mary Anderson, the 86-year-old owner of the home. There were working smoke alarms in the home.
• April 24: A house fire in the 3300 block of Sudlersville South in Maryland City killed Mary Lanthrip, an 84-year-old resident of the home. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and began in the kitchen area. There were working smoke alarms in the house.
• April 21: A fire in a group home in the 7900 block of Stone Hearth Road in Severn killed two residents and an employee. Residents Walter McCardell, 61, and William Garcia, 44, and an employee, Barbara Brown, 66, were killed in the accidental fire. The fire was the result of an electrical fault in a duplex electrical receptacle located in a rear bedroom of the residence. There were working smoke alarms in the house.

This year’s “Look. Listen. Learn.” campaign highlights three steps people can take to help quickly and safely escape a fire.

Look for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.

Learn 2 ways out of every room. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

NFPA statistics show that the number of U.S. home fires has been steadily declining over the past few decades. However, the death rate per 1000 home fires that are reported to fire departments was 10 percent higher in 2016 than in 1980. From January 1, 2018 to August 30, 2018, the news media have reported 1,651 home fire deaths according to the United States Fire Administration.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has online resources available to help you ensure your home is safe and you can react to a fire in your home:

Look for places fire could start. Take this Home Fire Safety Survey to determine if you are prepared and to help you look for places where fire could start.

Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. January 1, 2018, was the effective date of a state law aimed at reducing home fire deaths. The law, which went into effect on July 1, 2013, requires replacement of any battery-only operated smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old with a unit powered by a 10-year sealed-in battery having a “Hush” button feature. Find more about the requirements of the law here.

Learn 2 ways out of every room. Find information here on how to develop and practice a family escape plan.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and home escape planning, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has a free home smoke alarm program offered to county residents in need of smoke alarm checks and replacement. Visit the department's website for more information.

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