House Fire Claims Life of
University of Maryland Student

The house fire in the 7500 block of Princeton Avenue in College Park claimed the life of one occupant and seriously injured another. Photo By: Mark E. Brady, PGFD PIO   Fire Investigators search the area of origin of the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Photo By: Mark E. Brady

Just before 4:30 AM, on Saturday, April 30, 2005, Fire/EMS units from the College Park area were dispatched to a house fire after a passing motorist called 911 on her cell phone.  Firefighters and paramedics from the nearby College Park Fire/EMS Station 12 were the first to arrive and encountered a 2 1/2-story house with heavy fire consuming the entire front portion of the house.  The house is located in the 7500 block of Princeton Avenue, just off of College Avenue and about one block behind the Maryland Book Exchange.  This house is a rental being used by students attending the University of Maryland.  A 21-year old male escaped the fire by jumping from an upper floor window sustaining injuries as well as smoke inhalation and burns.  He was transported to an area Burn Unit and his condition has improved since being admitted in critical condition this morning.  Firefighters located Michael Anthony Scrocca, unconscious and not breathing, in a second floor rear bedroom.  Paramedics transported him to the Prince George’s Hospital Center where he died a short time after his arrival. There were 65 firefighters and paramedics on the scene.  It required 45 minutes to knock the fire down.  Fire Investigators conducted numerous interviews, obtained written statements from occupants and collected material from the scene in an attempt to determine the cause of the fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Fire loss is estimated at $300,000.