Firefighters Canvass Baltimore Co. Community After Deadly House Fire

HALETHORPE, MD — Baltimore County firefighters went door to door Tuesday to speak with Halethorpe community members about the importance of fire safety measures.

The canvassing came in response to the death of Dennis Randle, the 59-year-old man who died Friday from injuries he suffered when a fire broke out inside his home in the 1200 block of Vogt Avenue.

Investigators with the Baltimore County Fire Department ruled at the time that the fire was accidental, having been caused by the improper use of a lighter.

Related: Man Dies Days After Baltimore County House Fire

Battalion Chief Lonnie Ledford was among the firefighters speaking with residents about fire safety.

"Make sure you're utilizing appropriate heating sources," Ledford said in an interview with WMAR. "Make sure you're running extension cords through your home. That's a huge deal if you're overloading extension cords, that's a huge fire hazard for us," Ledford said.

Officials previously urged residents to visit the department's Community Risk Reduction page or call (410) 887-1822 for fire safety tips, free home fire safety inspections, or to see if you're eligible for a free smoke alarm.

Related: Dundalk Man Marks Baltimore Co.'s Fifth Fire Fatality This Year

The county has said it's recorded a notable rise in deadly home fires over the last two months. Randle was the county's fourth such death. A Dundalk man who died a day after Randle marked the fifth fire fatality of the year.