Second Fire at Severn House Kills One, One Missing (Update)

Updated at 2:15 p.m.

SEVERN, MD — One person has been confirmed dead in a Severn house fire, authorities say, and a second victim remains missing.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department said a 911 call reporting the blaze was made about 3:40 a.m. Thursday. The house, which was totally destroyed, is located in the 1200 block of Old Camp Meade Road.

The house was the scene of a two-alarm fire on Feb. 13, 2015, and was in the process of being repaired. In the earlier fire, the second floor was heavily damaged it what fire officials say was likely an accidential blaze.

There is currently not believed to be any connection between the February incident and Thursday’s fire, officials said.

The department said on its Twitter feed that structural concerns had to be addressed before firefighters could enter the ruins to search for a presumed second victim.

The initial caller to 911 said the second floor of the house was on fire; but the home was totally engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The fire was brought under control in 40 minutes by 50 firefighters from Anne Arundel County, Fort Meade and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Firefighters found one victim deceased on the house’s first floor. Family members told authorities a second person was likely at home at the time of the fire. Additional searches and fire investigation have been delayed by the structural instability of the dwelling, including an unstable chimney and weakened floors, the department said Monday afternoon.

Members of the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit are on the scene, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. The damage to the dwelling is estimated at $300,000 and is a complete loss.

»Photo of fatal Severn fire scene, from Anne Arundel County Fire Twitter feed