HOLLYWOOD, Md. — A fundraiser has been launched after a fatal house fire in Hollywood claimed the life of Chris, destroyed the home he shared with his fiancée and left the family with nearly nothing.
The fire was reported at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in the 22800 block of Thornbury Drive.
Firefighters from the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and several surrounding departments responded for a reported house fire with a child believed to be trapped inside. Crews arrived to find heavy fire throughout a two-story single-family home.
Authorities reported Chris re-entered the burning home in an attempt to locate his 10-year-old child. After firefighters extinguished the fire, he was found deceased on the second floor of the home. The child was later confirmed to have safely escaped.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire. Preliminary information indicated the family had been using ground-based sparkler fireworks earlier in the evening. After the fireworks ended, the spent fireworks were discarded into a trash can on the home’s screened-in rear deck. Investigators are reviewing whether the discarded fireworks retained enough heat to ignite combustible materials inside the trash can, resulting in the fire.
The GoFundMe was created to support Chris’ fiancée, Lauren, as she mourns his loss and begins rebuilding after the fire. The fundraiser states what should have been a time of celebration became an unimaginable tragedy, leaving the family without their home, clothing, shoes, family keepsakes and everyday essentials.
“As Lauren mourns the heartbreaking loss of Chris, she is also facing the overwhelming challenge of rebuilding her life from nothing,” the fundraiser states.
Donations will help cover immediate needs including temporary housing, clothing, food, toiletries, school supplies and other essential expenses as Lauren and her family begin the long process of rebuilding.
The fundraiser can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-local-family-after-devastating-loss
The fire remains under investigation.
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