SECOND CHILD’S BODY FOUND IN FIRE
Investigators have located the body of the missing child in this morning’s deadly house fire at 402 Grand Avenue in Cumberland. Although both children are believed to be Emily Edwards (7) and Halaina Smith (5), the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will confirm the identities and cause of death during their investigation. The children’s parents and two siblings escaped the fire uninjured. The neighbors, two adults and two children in the other half of the duplex at 402 also escaped the blaze uninjured.
ALLEGANY COUNTY, MD (October 23, 2014) – Investigators are currently on the scene of an active investigation involving a fire at a 2-story wood framed duplex where one child has died and one child is not yet accounted for. The property is located at 402 & 404 Grand Avenue in Cumberland.
Nearly 45 firefighters responded from Cumberland, Bowman’s Addition, Bowling Green, Crespatown, Bedford Road, Ridgely and Wiley Ford Fire Departments and brought the fire under control within 30 minutes after arrival. The 2:55 a.m. fire was located by occupants after smoke alarms sounded in both sections of the duplex.
The fire originated in 402 where 2 adults and 4 children were sleeping. One child succumbed to injuries received at the scene and one child is being actively searched for at this time. The occupants of 404 escaped without injury.
A joint investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, C3I, Cumberland City Fire Marshals Office and the Cumberland City Police Department is underway to search for the missing child and determine the origin and cause for the fire.
The fire originated in 402 where 2 adults and 4 children were sleeping. One child succumbed to injuries received at the scene and one child is being actively searched for at this time. The occupants of 404 escaped without injury.
