Husband And Wife Killed In Early Morning House Fire, Son Escapes

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — Two people were killed in an early morning house fire Wednesday in Havre de Grace.

At around 1:15 a.m., the Susquehanna Hose Company and surrounding departments were called to a home located in the 800 block of Erie Street after neighbors called 911 to report a house fire with reported entrapment.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire throughout a two-story, single family home. Firefighters busted their way into the home and later found two adults in a second-floor bedroom.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will confirm the victims’ identities; however, investigators have preliminarily identified them as the homeowners - a 73-year-old husband and his 85-year-old wife.

One firefighter was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for evaluation.

A team of deputy state fire marshals, along with detectives from the Havre de Grace Police Department, worked throughout the night and determined that the couple’s adult son woke up to the sound of their smoke alarm. He attempted to go downstairs and escape, but encountered heavy smoke and flames. He retreated to his second-floor bedroom, kicked out a window and jumped to safety. He was not injured, officials said.

Deputy state fire marshals determined that the fire originated in the first-floor living room. The exact cause remains under investigation. No evidence of criminal activity has been recovered and investigators will continue to examine all accidental causes.

“Our hearts break for the victims and their loved ones,” said Maryland Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. “In this case, a working smoke alarm alerted the surviving occupant and gave him the critical seconds needed to escape. Tragically, two others were unable to escape. This heartbreaking incident reminds us that while smoke alarms save lives, every second counts in a fire. We urge everyone to make sure smoke alarms are working and to have and practice a home escape plan.”

These are the first fire fatalities in Harford County in 2026. In 2025, Harford County experienced two double-fatality fires in February in Aberdeen and another fatal fire in May.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal urges all Marylanders to have working smoke alarms on every level of their homes and inside sleeping areas. To learn more about smoke alarm safety or to request a smoke alarm for your home, visit Get Alarmed Maryland.

Photo courtesy of the Susquehanna Hose Company