Man Dies In Arbutus House Fire: Officials

ARBUTUS, MD — Authorities said one person died and three were injured in a house fire off Wilkens Avenue early Wednesday morning. Three generations of one family were in the home on Courtney Road.

Michael Wayne Johnson, 51, was pronounced deceased at the scene, authorities said; he could not escape from the second floor. His mother, grandmother and sister survived the blaze at the two-story residence on Courtney Road.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 900 block of Courtney Road at 12:10 a.m., and within six minutes, officials said the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department arrived.

Heavy fire conditions were reported throughout the home, where there were residents trapped.

Officials said Johnson's sister arrived home just before firefighters, saw flames at the front door and tried to alert her brother, then ran to her grandmother's window. A Wilkens precinct officer and state trooper helped her pull the 97-year-old woman through the window. The woman was critically injured, according to authorities, who said medics provided CPR and took her to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.

Authorities said two adult family members were being treated for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

The fire was placed under control at 2:21 a.m.

Main photos by Elizabeth Janney and Craig Soltis.