Father dies after going back into burning home to look for 10-year-old child
A father who went back into his burning Maryland home to look for his 10-year-old child has died, according to fire officials, who are investigating whether spent fireworks may have sparked the deadly Fourth of July weekend blaze.
Heavy fire broke out Sunday night throughout the two-story home in Hollywood, located about 60 miles southeast of Washington, D.C.
Multiple fire departments responded following the report of a house fire with a child believed to be trapped inside, according to Maryland's Office of the State Fire Marshal.
"Initial reports indicated the child's father had re-entered the residence in an attempt to locate the child," the office said in a statement on Monday. "After extinguishing the fire, firefighters located the father deceased on the second floor of the home."
The child was later confirmed to have safely escaped, authorities said.
Investigators confirmed the victim to be the child's father and homeowner, according to the state fire marshal's office, which did not release his name.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by Maryland's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, officials said.
The fire remains under investigation, though fire officials said they are looking into whether spent sparkler fireworks played a role. Based on preliminary information, the family had been using ground-based sparkler fireworks earlier Sunday evening that were disposed of in a trash can on the home's screened-in rear deck, according to the fire marshal's office.
"Deputy State Fire Marshals are investigating whether the discarded fireworks retained enough heat to ignite combustible materials inside the trash can, resulting in the fire," the fire marshal's office said.
Fire officials warned that fireworks can retain enough heat to ignite combustible materials long after they appear to have been extinguished. They advised that spent fireworks and sparklers should be thoroughly soaked in water and then placed in a noncombustible container outdoors to cool off before disposing of them.
"Our hearts are with this family as they face an unimaginable loss," Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in a statement. "As we continue our investigation, we want everyone to remember that fireworks don't stop posing a risk when the show is over. Taking a few extra minutes to soak and properly dispose of used fireworks and sparklers can help prevent a tragedy like this."
