On Monday, May 18, 2020, at approximately 12:05 p.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Hughesville, La Plata and Seventh District responded to 38571 Locke’s Forest Lane in Mechanicsville, for the reported house on fire with subjects trapped.
Dispatch advised all responding units they have received multiple 911 calls reporting the house is on fire with subjects trapped in a bedroom.
Firefighters from Mechanicsville arrived on the scene in under 5 minutes from the time of dispatch and immediately pushed into the residence and began their search. One adult female was pulled from the residence and firefighters started life-saving measures with the assistance from emergency medical personnel.
Unfortunately, medics pronounced the elderly female deceased on the scene at approximately 1:00 p.m. One dog was also pronounced deceased on the scene.
One woman was able to escape the residence with injuries, however, she signed care refusal forms on the scene.
The American Red Cross was requested for a 30-year-old male, and 62-year-old woman displaced by the fire.
No other known injuries have been reported.
A team of investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are conducting an investigation. The first 911 call was received at 12:03 p.m when an occupant of the home came home and discovered the fire. Another occupant of the home, who was inside, was able to escape without injury.
The origin and cause remain under investigation.
Updates will be provided when they become available.
UPDATE: Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Press Release:
On Monday, at 1205 hours, the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department along with surrounding mutual aide companies was alerted to a reported house on fire with a person trapped at 38571 Lockes Forrest Lane. Engine 24, Tanker 2, Rescue Squad 2, Utility 2, Chief 2 and Chief 2A made the response immediately at dispatch with 16 personnel. Chief 2 arrived on the scene at 1209 hours to find a single-story, single-family home with a well advanced fire in the home, and communications advising there was a victim trapped in the rear bedroom. Units arrived on the scene and immediately deployed 2 hose lines and began performing searches of the home using a Vent-Enter-Search method to allow members to quickly gain access to the rear bedrooms of the home. Chief 2A established command of the incident.
Engine 24, Chief 2, and Rescue Squad 2 located an unconscious victim in the rear bathroom. The crew members rapidly removed the victim out one of the “Bravo” side windows to other members who were awaiting the patient to begin EMS care. Crews quickly assessed the patient to find them pulseless, and began life saving efforts while EMS reported to Side Bravo with their equipment. The patient subsequently succumbed to their injuries received during the incident.
The fire was located by a resident who came home and found the house on fire. The resident was able to alert one family member in another back bedroom of the fire. That occupant was able to escape without injury.
