Fatal Severn Fire: Woman Pulled From Burning Home Dies Days Later, Officials Say

SEVERN, MD — A Severn woman died Wednesday after firefighters removed her from her burning home two days earlier, Anne Arundel officials announced.

Authorities identified the victim as Joann Marie Smith, 75.

This was the third fire-related death of the year in Anne Arundel County. A press release said Christopher Blaine Isaksen, 62, died after a March 9 blaze in Severn and Darlene Feeheley, 68, was the victim of a March 18 fire in Glen Burnie.

There were two fire fatalities from one blaze in 2021. Three separate fires claimed three lives in 2020.

Fatal Severn Fire

Smith's home caught fire Monday evening. The accidental blaze caused $60,000 in damage, officials said.

Authorities said the victim was in cardiac arrest when firefighters pulled her from the home. Paramedics took her to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. She had critical, life-threatening injuries at the time.

A neighbor reported smoke coming from the home's windows in the 8200 block of Portsmouth Drive around 6:17 p.m.

Firefighters said they spotted and extinguished the flames, which started in the living room of the two-story duplex. Crews simultaneously found and removed the woman from the second floor.

A team of 42 firefighters controlled the blaze in about 15 minutes, the release said.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department thanked these stations for assisting its response:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Fire & Rescue Department
• Fort George G. Meade Fire and Emergency Services

The home's smoke alarms sounded properly, investigators said. The cause is still undetermined.

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