Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Martin O’Malley Governor
William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal
FIRE MARSHALS INVESTIGATE FATAL FIRE CHARLES COUNTY, MD (August 4, 2011) – Deputy State Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of a fatal fire that claimed the life of a five year old boy and sent his two year old sister to Civista Medical Center in LaPlata this morning. The home is a one story, single family dwelling located in the Strawberry Hill Estates subdivision at 6885 Arbor Lane in Bryans Road, Maryland. Local fire departments were dispatched to the scene at approximately 6:10 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke conditions and multiple victims outside the home. The occupants, mother, Shevon Conley (31) and her six children between the ages of one to eleven, were not all accounted for as personnel arrived on scene. An unconscious two year old girl was rescued from the home by firefighters. She displayed severe symptoms of smoke inhalation and was quickly transported to Civista Medical Center in critical condition. It was later determined that Shevon Conley found two landscapers outside and they quickly placed a ladder to the rear of the home and ushered a three year old girl to safety. The body of the five year old boy was located inside the bedroom where the fire originated, as determined by investigators. The bulk of the fire damage was contained to the bedroom of origin. Investigators are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire and are being assisted by the Charles County sheriff’s Office. No evidence of working smoke alarms have been located during the on-scene investigation.
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Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876
1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208