Five Maryland Police Officers Hospitalized After Controlling Hagerstown House Fire

Five Hagerstown police officers were hospitalized after responding to a house fire on East Lee Street during the Mummer's Parade on October 25. The officers forced entry into the two-story townhome upon seeing flames and used a fire extinguisher to suppress the fire before the arrival of firefighters. The fire, which originated in the kitchen due to vegetable oil igniting on a stovetop, caused smoke inhalation injuries to the officers; one was transferred to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center for additional treatment, while the others were treated and released from Meritus Medical Center. No residents were found inside the home, though one person nearby was evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused hospital transport. The fire caused about $5,000 in damage, and notably, there were no working smoke alarms in the residence. Additionally, a separate townhome fire in Frederick County resulted in the collapse of the structure and displaced nine people, with all occupants safely evacuated and assisted by the Red Cross.