Elderly Woman Dies In Cooking Fire At Odenton Apartment

ODENTON, MD — An 83-year-old Odenton woman whose clothing caught fire while she was cooking died from her injuries, Anne Arundel County Fire officials say. Betty Lee Farley was killed in the fire Thursday afternoon at the Catholic Charities Senior Housing at Friendship Village, 1208 Odenton Road.

The fire in the four-story apartment building began as Farley was cooking on the stove in her second-story unit. Authorities say she turned to empty her trash can, which was next to the stove, when her clothing touched the electric burner element and ignited. Farley tried to extinguish the flames and walked out into the hallway, where residents came to her aid. One resident was injured as she tried to help Farley.

A Maryland State Police helicopter flew Farley to the Burn Center at John Hopkins Bayview Hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. She died just before midnight from burns.

An 84-year-old woman was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center with minor injuries related to smoke inhalation.

Officials have not released a damage estimate.

Crews from Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Fire & Rescue Department also responded to the call. No fire was visible by the time firefighters arrived.

County fire officials say Farley is the second fire death in Anne Arundel County in 2019. On Jan. 30, George Christopher Kouimanis, 37, died as a result of an accidental fire at his home at 415 Wellham Ave. in Glen Burnie.

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