After Fatal Edgewood Fire, Manager's 6 Other Properties Cited

EDGEWOOD, MD — After three people died in a May 9 house fire in Edgewood, the fire marshal said that investigators inspected all properties overseen by the manager of the residence on Simons Way. Inspectors found that his six other properties lacked sprinklers or fire alarms, which is required in homes with at least six occupants, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

As a result, Jeffrey A. Luck has received multiple fire code violations for his Edgewood properties, the fire marshal reported on Friday, May 17. The fire marshal said that the investigation into the Simons Way fire remains ongoing.

"It was clear after our initial investigation of last week's fatal fire that we needed to immediately inspect every property affiliated with Mr. Luck for the safety of his tenants and the community," State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci said in a statement.

Someone called 911 to report the fire on Simons Court in Edgewood after 2 a.m. on Thursday, May 9. There were heavy fire conditions when firefighters arrived, and one of the people inside jumped from the second or third floor to escape.

Three people died, two were injured, three got out unharmed and one person was not at home at the time, according to authorities. One of the victims who was injured remains hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, authorities reported on Thursday, May 16.

In reporting on the initial findings on Simons Way, the fire marshal said nine rooms had been set up for people to live in at the residence, which had not been inspected as would have been required by the code if it were operating as a boarding house.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

RELATED: 2 Victims From Deadly Edgewood Fire Identified

While the probe of the deadly blaze continues, the fire marshal said that the property manager was found to be in violation at his six other Edgewood properties.

Officials noted the following code violations:

• Lack of smoke alarms
• Lack of padlocks on bedroom doors
• Lack of sprinkler or fire alarm system
• Lack of fire alarm system

The fire marshal said that all the properties would be re-inspected to ensure that all violations have been corrected and to verify occupancy.

"Code enforcement allows us to provide life safety and fire prevention to the residents of Maryland," Geraci said. "I consider the preservation of life to be the most important responsibility of this office."

These are the six properties where the violations were found, the fire marshal reported:

• 1846 Grempler Way
• 1848 Eloise Lane
• 1854 Eloise Lane
• 1947 Brookside Drive
• 1945 Brookside Drive
• 1459 Charlestown Drive

The fire marshal reported that no fines had been issued and no criminal charges had been filed as of Friday, May 17.

SEE ALSO: Triple Fatal Edgewood House Fire Sparks Criminal Investigation