Fatal Severn Fire: Officials Identify Man Pronounced Dead

SEVERN, MD — Officials on Saturday announced that Christopher Blaine Isaksen, 62, died last week after his Severn home caught on fire. Authorities are still investigating what caused the fatal blaze. Crews said they didn't find any working smoke detectors on the property.

"Smoke alarms are a vital part of a home fire escape plan," the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said in a press release. "When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you an early warning so you can get outside quickly."

The agency encouraged residents to check the batteries on their smoke detectors. The fire department also offered these tips:

• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
• Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• When replacing a battery, follow the manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions.

Neighbors and passersby reported the blaze in the 7900 block of Quarterfield Road last Wednesday around 10:51 p.m.

The call came out as a shed fire, but the area of origin is still under investigation. First responders said they found flames on both floors of the two-story, single-family home.

Crews spotted the victim during their search. Medics said they pronounced him dead on the scene. The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death.

A team of 30 firefighters controlled the blaze in about 15 minutes, a press release said.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department thanked the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Fire & Rescue Department for assisting its response.

Officials did not estimate how much damage the flames caused.

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• Man Pronounced Dead After Severn House Fire: Officials

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