Family Identifies Arnold Man Killed In House Fire

(Updated at 8:30 p.m.) ANNAPOLIS, MD — Family members have released the name of an Arnold man who died Monday night when his house near the Severn River bridge was consumed by fire. Anne Arundel County Fire Department officials say a second resident was able to escape the blaze.

Frank Dobson was killed in the fire, his sister Joan Whiteley, told The Capital-Gazette. She lives a few houses away from fire scene. Nearly 60 firefighters from the United States Naval Academy and the Annapolis Fire Department were called to the house on Winchester Road near the north side of the bridge about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Two fire boats were used to supply crews with water.

Fire officials say two men were inside the house, and one escaped. Because of the intensity of the fire, rescuers were not able to enter the house to look for Dobson when they arrived. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fatal fire.

“The fire was throughout the entire house, and we just had to work from a safe distance and provide as much water as possible to try to get the fire under control as quickly as possible," Lt. Erik Kornmeyer with the fire department told WTOP. “The house is a total loss,” Kornmeyer said.

Authorities have not yet confirmed that Dobson was the person killed in the fire, or released an estimated damage amount.

»Photo courtesy of Anne Arundel County Fire Department