Deputy State Fire Marshals and St. Mary’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations continute to investigate a fire that claimed the life of a 68-year-old man.
Investigators identified the man as Paul T. Penrod who resided at the home along with his wife. She was not at home at the time of the fire.
Deputy State Fire Marshals learned that St Mary’s County 911 Center received a call from Life Line Alarm Company advising they had received a panic alarm from the home.
Approximately fifty-firefighters from Hollywood, Leonardtown and Bay District Stations 3 & 9 were dispatched to 25160 Pinto Drive. First arriving firefighters located Penrod lying on the floor at the top of the second floor stairs. He was removed from the home and was found to be unresponsive. Firefighters began CPR while Penrod was taken to St Mary’s Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is being sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where a forensic examination will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the second floor bedroom areas. The 9:48 a.m. fire caused an estimated $125,000.00 in damage to the home.
The origin and cause for the fire remains under investigation. There were no other injuries reported.
Firefighters were dispatched to report of a working house fire in the 25000 block of Pinto Drive in Hollywood around 9:50 a.m., on Wednesday, May 20.
Fire crews arrived on the scene to discover fire and smoke coming from the rear of the home in the area of the attic. One person was home at the time of the fire and was trapped inside. Firefighters were able to remove a 68-year-old male from the home. Rescue crews proceeded to perform CPR. The man was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, no word on his condition at this time.
Firefighters were able to save the family dog.
Maryland State Fire Marshall’s are on the scene investigating the cause of the blaze.
More details to follow as they become available.