UPDATE 8/13/2025: The Office of the State Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause of the deadly multi-fatal fire in Waldorf that claimed the lives of six people, including four children, on Sunday morning.
Preliminary information indicates the victims are believed to be the wife and three children of the homeowner, along with the wife and child of another surviving occupant of the home.
While no evidence of arson has been found, the cause remains under investigation.
One of the most sensitive and time-consuming parts of a fatal fire investigation is positively identifying the victims. In fatal fires, extreme heat, heavy smoke, and structural damage can make visual identification impossible. In such cases, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner relies on advanced forensic methods such as dental record comparison, fingerprint analysis, or DNA testing. Each step requires meticulous work to ensure accuracy, dignity, and certainty for the victims’ families.
“The Office of the State Fire Marshal knows that Charles County Public Schools has issued a statement stating that some of the children involved may have attended their schools. However, our responsibility is to confirm all identities through the OCME before releasing any names or ages. We will continue to uphold this process to ensure accuracy and respect for the victims and their loved ones.”
As part of every origin and cause investigation, Deputy State Fire Marshals attempt to determine if smoke alarms were present and activated during the fire—a process often complicated by the damage that heat, smoke, and firefighting efforts can cause to alarm components.
While all of the smoke alarms within the first and second floors of the home were destroyed, investigators did locate a smoke alarm in the basement; however, it was disconnected and had no battery installed.
Some residents disconnect or remove alarms after repeated nuisance activations from cooking, steam, or other household activities. However, doing so removes a critical early-warning system that can mean the difference between life and death in a fire.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal continues to work alongside the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, which is standard operating procedure whenever a fatal fire occurs.
Once the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completes its examinations, the names, ages, and official causes of death for the victims will be released.
The family has started a GoFundMe as the surviving members of the family have lost everything in the home alongside their loved ones.
Video, and audio of the dispatch and incident audio below as our First Responders risked everything to save the trapped victims.
UPDATE 8/10/2025 @ 5:49 P. m.: This is now a confirmed six-person fatal fire—two adults and four children.
One adult escaped, and two more were not home when the fire broke out.
Investigators will remain on the scene and focus on the cause of the fire. No evidence of a criminal act has been recovered, and they will continue to examine all accidental causes.
This will remain an active scene until the late evening hours.
UPDATE 8/10/2025 @ 3:01 P.M.: We can confirm this is a triple fatal fire; with investigators continuing to search for three more victims.
Teams consisting of Deputy State Fire Marshals, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, ATF; firefighters and EMS from Charles County Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services continue to work together to recover the victims and search for any others.
They are being assisted by Calvert K9 Search and Rescue and the Charles County Collapse Team.
This operation will continue into the evening hour; and we will update as we receive more information. PIO is on the scene.
UPDATE 8/10/2025 @ 2:10 P.M.: State Fire Marshal Investigation teams and K9’s from throughout Maryland are on the scene with firefighters and other police agencies who are continuing their search, recovery operations and investigation.
Incident command was advised that the homeowner reported a total of 6 occupants were unaccounted for, which included multiple children.
The homeowner, and one adult female escaped with one later being transported to an area hospital. Multiple firefighters suffered injuries during rescue attempts, however, at least two were treated and released on scene.
Crews from Charles, Prince George’s County, St. Mary’s County, Naval District Washington and Virginia, remain on scene, or assisting with fill-ins throughout the county to assist.
Our thoughts go out to our community, families involved, friends and our First Responders in this devastating incident.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Teams have been requested for our First Responders.
Further updates will be provided at a later time. Avoid the area and expect the road to be closed for the next 5+ hours.
8/10/2025: A house fire in the 3000 block of North Declaration Court in Waldorf, has left at least two people dead, with officials continuing to search the scene for additional victims.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical services from Charles, St. Mary’s, Prince George’s County along with Naval District Washington were dispatched around 8:41 a.m. on Sunday, August 10, 2025, for the reported house on fire with subjects trapped.
Crews from the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, along with multiple surrounding departments, responded to reports of a multiple children trapped and last seen on the second floor.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire conditions and quickly upgraded the incident to two-alarms. Despite the entire house being fully engulfed, firefighters deployed multiple attack hose lines and made entry into the home to find the second floor was compromised and found no occupants on the first floor.
Firefighters reported the second floor collapsed a short time later with operations
Incident command was advised the homeowner, who was not English speaking, reported 7 home occupants missing, involving multiple children.
Deputy State Fire Marshals have confirmed at least two fatalities just before 1 p.m., and said the search is still ongoing. Investigators are working in coordination with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office — a standard procedure for fatal fire investigations.
Heavy machinery, K9’s and additional teams are being brought in to assist with the investigation and search, which officials say will be necessary for the extended operation.
This remains an active investigation. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or the cause of the fire.
Charles County Public Schools Released the following statement: We are aware of a fatal fire that occurred early this morning in Waldorf. The tragedy has impacted one of our families. Please keep the family, our first responders and community in your thoughts.
Charles County Government released the following statement.: Charles County Government is aware of a fatal house fire that took place this morning in Waldorf. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing at this time. We are thankful to the Charles County Volunteer Fire Departments and Emergency Services personnel for their courage, skill, and quick action.
