Padonia Road House Fire Was Fatal: Officials

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — One person died in a Cockeysville house fire Wednesday night, according to authorities. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials reported Thursday.

Crews were dispatched to the 800 block of Padonia Road for a house fire at 11:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Firefighters arrived to find the Padonia Road rancher engulfed by flames, and neighbors said that an elderly woman was inside.

Wanda Mary Shattuck, 98, of the 800 block of West Padonia Road, was pronounced deceased at the scene when firefighters located her in the home, officials reported.

Crews encountered heavy fire when they entered, and at 11:52 p.m. they were evacuated because conditions were deteriorating and the structure was unsafe, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.

High winds made controlling the blaze more challenging, officials reported, and crews attacked the fire from the outside until it was officially knocked at 12:46 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10.

Another obstacle was the lack of hydrants in the area, according to the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company.

A tanker team and about 30 pieces of fire apparatus assisted in the effort, officials said.

By 2:17 a.m., the Baltimore County Fire Department reported the fire was out. However, WJZ said because of the wind, the fire reignited and crews returned after 5 a.m. The region is under a wind advisory Thursday for potential gusts up to 50 mph.

Authorities said the home was declared a total loss.

#BREAKING: gusty winds make it difficult for crews battling a house fire on Padonia Road in Baltimore County that left one woman critically hurt. @wjz #WJZ pic.twitter.com/0KdTcgz3gY
— Tracey Leong (@TraceyWJZ) January 10, 2019

#bcofd Dwelling Fire//819 Padonia Rd, Padonia//fire is out. Units are clearing the scene and fire Investigators still working to determine the cause^NT pic.twitter.com/txAXS2WQ6u
— Baltimore County Fire Department (@BaltCoFire) January 10, 2019

Main photo of the Padonia Road fire courtesy of the Baltimore County Fire Department.