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Two Die in House Fire
CLINTON (Sept. 20, 2005) PG County firefighters and paramedics from the Clinton station responded to reported house fire on Tippett Road in Clinton at about 6:15 pm. PGFD spokesman Mark Brady reports that a neighbor advised firefighters that there were two people still inside the burning building when the first units arrived to find heavy fire showing.
Firefighters immediately initiated an aggressive interior attack on the fire as well as a search and rescue of the trapped occupants. Within minutes, an unconscious female was located in the hallway just outside of a bedroom. The 60ish year old female was removed from the house and transported to Southern Maryland Hospital Center where she pronounced dead a short time after her arrival. Firefighters also located a 60ish year old male in a hallway off of the living room and pronounced him deceased on the scene. It is probable that one or both of the occupants had some type of physical disability. The fire was extinguished in about 15 minutes. Firefighters faced several challenges upon arrival; a heavy volume of fire inside of the house, a report of two occupants still inside, and Collyers Mansion Conditions. 'Collyer's Mansion Conditions' is a term that is used to describe a house or building that has a large amount of trash and clutter in it. The large amounts of debris make it difficult for a firefighter to gain entry or search. The condition made it extremely difficult for firefighters to negotiate inside of a house that was already charged with thick black smoke and intense heat. A firefighter sustained a knee injury while battling this fire; he was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Fire Investigators remained on the scene late into the evening and are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire. Fire loss estimates have not yet been determined. Identification of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family.