UPDATED: One Dead in House Fire in Western Howard County

GLENWOOD, MD — Officials said one person was pronounced deceased in a house fire Wednesday afternoon in western Howard County.

Deena Rae Brewer, 61, of Glenwood Springs Drive, and a dog inside the home perished in the blaze, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reported.

Smoke was coming from the front door when crews arrived at the residence in the 2800 block of Glenwood Springs Drive at 1:45 p.m., according to officials.

Other people inside the home and a dog had evacuated before firefighters arrived, authorities said.

First responders quickly brought the blaze under control. Officials said the fire was contained to the basement.

Approximately 50 personnel from Howard, Carroll and Montgomery counties responded to the incident. A Howard County fire and rescue chaplain and the Howard County mobile crisis team were supporting the family, officials said.

Damage to the home was estimated to be $50,000.

Authorities were continuing to investigate the cause and origin of the blaze. Preliminarily, officials said it did not appear that anything was suspicious.

The Howard County Police Department, which is brought into incidents when there is a fatality, was investigating the case as a matter of standard operating procedure.

Photo courtesy of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Patch file photo.