Fire Marshal: Man Set Himself Ablaze in Fatal Bel Air House Fire

The man who died in residential blaze in Bel Air last week set himself on fire, according to authorities.

Jaswant Singh, 73, was in the home in the 1100 block of Saddleback Way by himself on Aug. 25 when he went into the kitchen and set himself on fire, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Afterward, Singh walked into the living room and collapsed, burning until the floor weakened and fell into the basement, the fire marshal reported. It was determined to have been an act of self-immolation, the report said.

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Singh’s daughter, who owns the home, discovered the fire at 3:13 p.m. and called 911, according to the fire marshal.

She tried opening the garage door and front door but could not due to heavy smoke and told emergency dispatchers she thought her father was still inside the home, the fire marshal reported.

Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office were first at the scene and, learning that the woman’s father was most likely inside, made ”valiant attempts to enter the home” but could not due to heavy smoke and heat, the fire marshal said.

When firefighters arrived soon after, they went into the smoke-filled residence, searching the first and second floors and extinguishing a fire in the living room floor area, the fire marshal said.

Firefighters found Singh’s body among debris in the basement, according to the fire marshal.

The medical examiner determined Singh died from thermal burn injuries, the fire marshal reported.

As is standard procedure after fatal fires, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Maryland State Police worked together in the investigation. They ruled out foul play, according to the fire marshal.

Photo Credit: Mark Ensor, BAVFC.