Chesapeake Beach, MD – A 70-year-old woman sustained burns as a result of an incident that occurred in the kitchen of her Calvert County home, state authorities reported.
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the incident occurred late Thursday afternoon, Aug. 11 at approximately 5:19 p.m. at a residence on 15th Street in Chesapeake Beach. The woman was flown to MedStar Washington. Her condition is not known at this time. Damage to the home is estimated at $100.
“The 911 Center received a call for an alarm at the residence,” a deputy fire marshal’s report stated. “The Calvert County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the residence first and found heavy smoke conditions, as well as the burn victim.”
Four firefighters from the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the one-alarm blaze but the fire had already been extinguished.
The fire marshal identified the “owner/occupant” of the home as Wilma Ortenzo.
“This incident is currently under investigation,” the deputy fire marshal’s report stated. “Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Southern Regional Office, at 443-550-6832.”
Chesapeake Beach Town officials are reporting the incident was apparently sparked by an explosion in the home’s kitchen. Town spokeswoman Connie O’Dell stated in a missive to residents, “The fire department was called to the scene and discovered a woman. She indicated there had been an explosion but was unable to explain what happened since she was severely burned. It is still uncertain what caused the explosion.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
