Six family members, including four young children, were killed in a house fire in Waldorf, Maryland, on Sunday morning, authorities say. The fire is one of the deadliest in the state in recent memory.
Video shows flames leaping from a home on Declaration Court. The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department responded at about 8:40 a.m. Two men were able to escape the house unharmed; one resident wasn’t home at the time, the fire marshal’s office said.
Neighbors came together to mourn the deaths and support the survivors. They left flowers and prayed for the victims.
“I have four children of my own, and two of them are in that age group, and I’m just thinking, ‘Where are the children? Where are they?’” homeowners association president Anesha Berry said.
A day after the fatal fire, she still couldn’t bring herself to look at the wreckage of the home.
“It’s awful to know what was going on in there,” she said.
A woman who knows the family fought tears as she spoke with News4.
“I’m really sad. The kids – I love the kids,” she said.
The family’s children often were seen playing outside. Residents described the neighborhood as tight-knit and said the family always was friendly, though there was a language barrier.
“My whole family is devastated,” one neighbor said.
“I just immediately went into prayer mode, praying for their rescue, their safety,” another neighbor said.
The fire was reported by someone passing by, according to the fire marshal’s office. It had advanced by the time firefighters arrived. The cause was not immediately determined, but investigators believe it started in an enclosed porch area. Investigators found smoke alarms and will check if they activated.
The victims’ names were not immediately released. Three of the children who died attended Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, the school told families. The principal said resources are available to help students grappling with grief.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
