Photos courtesy of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

Update from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

On May 25 at 12:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to a house fire at 11002 Greenwood Court in Waldorf.

Neighbors called to say the back of a house was on fire and flames were coming through the roof. Another neighbor called and alerted 911 call takers that two people had escaped – a 26-year-old woman and a 3-year-old girl – but that a man was still trapped inside.

Officer V. Warker was the first person to arrive on the scene. He confirmed an adult male was still inside. Without the benefit of protective gear, Officer Warker forced open the screen door, and kicked open another door and made entry. The house was filled with heavy smoke and the rear of the home was in flames. Officer Warker could only see inches in front of him. Upon crawling on the floor, Officer Warker noticed a pair of white socks. Soon he realized the socks were on a man who was lying on the floor unconscious.

Officer Warker dragged the man outside to the front porch where CCSO Sgt. Ashley Burroughs – who had just arrived on the scene – and a neighbor helped pull the man to the street, away from the house. The officers rolled the man to his side and opened his airway.

Cpl. J. Timko, another CCSO officer, arrived and went to neighboring homes to alert them of the fire and to evacuate their homes until the fire could be controlled. Fire/EMS personnel arrived on the scene and provided oxygen and took over first aid for the victim who was suffering from smoke inhalation and burns to his head and throat.

The man, 44, of Waldorf, was flown to a hospital with severe injuries. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire. Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry stated the actions of Officer Warker were heroic and undoubtedly saved the man’s life.

Waldorf, MD –  One man sustained nonlife-threatening injuries in a house fire that occurred early Monday morning, May 25, state authorities reported.

According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze occurred on Greenwood Court in Waldorf. Fifty firefighters from Waldorf, Accokeek, Bryans Road, Brandywine, La Plata and Fort Washington were dispatched to the one-alarm fire.

Crews brought the flames under control in 10 minutes. The fire was discovered by an occupant and reported shortly before 1 a.m.

“The accidental fire occurred on the exterior of the residence as a result of charcoal embers igniting nearby combustible material then extending onto the deck and into the residence,” Dfm. Melissa Decker stated. The injured man was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment.

“The family was displaced as a result of the fire and is being assisted by friends, family and the American Red Cross,” Decker stated.

The fire marshal’s report identifies the owner of the house as Jennifer Boniface, and the occupants as Leon Hendricks and Ashley Gawthrop.

Damage to the one-story, single-family dwelling is estimated at $50,000.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com