Smoking May Have Caused Fatal House Fire

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One person died in an overnight house fire in Brooklyn Park that may have been started by someone smoking near an oxygen unit, authorities say.

Anne Arundel County firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in the 5200 block of Disney Avenue about 11:10 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor spotted flames coming from a window of the house. Firefighters from Anne Arundel County, assisted by Baltimore City crews, extinguished the fire in the single-family dwelling in less than 15 minutes.

The body of a woman was found as crews searched the debris, the department says. Authorities have not released the name of the victim.

The Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit is working to determine the fire’s cause. However, early indications are that this is an accidental fire possibly related to the use of smoking products in conjunction with home oxygen. The deceased was the only occupant of the home at the time of the fire, officials say.

Fire damage is estimated at $50,000.

Other adult residents have been displaced from the dwelling but did not require assistance from the Red Cross. There were no other injuries.

It is unclear at this time whether working smoke alarms were in the dwelling and it is part of the ongoing investigation. However, it is recommended that smoke alarms be installed inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement and that they be tested monthly.