Man dies in Randallstown apartment fire

From: Baltimore Sun, MD - 06 Mar 2003

A hearing-impaired man was killed and three others injured in an apartment fire early this morning, Baltimore County fire officials said.

Investigators believe an accident in the kitchen of the basement apartment where the men lived caused the fire, but they were still investigating the exact cause, said Baltimore County Fire Capt. James Korn.

Sixty firefighters responded to the fire at Woodbridge Apartments about 4 a.m. All four people living in the apartment were hearing-impaired, but the apartment had working strobe lights connected to smoke alarms, Korn said.

One survivor was listed in critical condition at Northwest Hospital Center, and two others were reported in serious condition at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Korn said.

The names of the victims were not immediately available.

Three other adults and a child were treated for minor injuries at the scene and were released, he said.

About 20 people were rescued from balconies on upper floors, but the fire was contained to the single apartment, Korn said. All 12 apartments in the complex were evacuated while officials investigated, he added.

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press