1994 — Feb 26, Fire, from candle; rowhouse; power turned off, West Baltimore, MD — 9
— 9 AP. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD. 2-28-1994.
— 9 AP. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A.
— 9 Baltimore Sun. “Fatal Fires.” 5-23-2007.
Narrative Information
Baltimore Sun: “Feb. 26, 1994. Nine people, including seven children, died at 2035 Hollins St., a West Batltimore rowhouse where electrical power had been cut off in October because of unpaid bills. A candle being used as a light source ignited the blaze, officials said.”
AP: “Baltimore (AP) – A fire that engulfed a row house, killing seven children and two adults, was caused by candles they were burning for light because their electricity had been cut off, fire officials said Sunday [Feb 27].
“A 21-year-old woman dropped her 2-year-old son to safety from a second-floor window and then leaped herself, suffering a broken ankle, fire officials said.
“The only other survivor was a 14-year-old boy who told investigators he was awakened by the heat and screamed to wake the others upstairs. All of the dead were found upstairs.
“Investigators believe the fire late Saturday [Feb 26] was started in the downstairs living room by candles left burning on a table beside a sofa bed where the boy slept…
“Power was shut off Oct. 11 after the electric bill for the row house had mounted to $1,400, said Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. spokesman…The home in one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods apparently also had no heat. It had a gas stove, but the oil furnace required electricity…
[The company spokesman] “said state funds that help the poor pay for utilities contributed $384 to the electric bill. The company offered to allow the bill to be paid off over a one- to four-year period, but the residents never responded… ‘We’re willing to do anything to help, but we need some reciprocation,’…The last payment was $100 in September 1993…
“There were no smoke detectors.
“So far this year, 25 people have died in Baltimore fires, compared with 33 for all of 1993, [according to] fire department spokesman…”
“When firefighters arrived, the block was so filled with smoke that firefighters had difficulty determining which house was burning…It took 30 firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze.
“Some of the children, who ranged in age from 8 months to 12 years, were found crouched on the floor or hiding under clothes and blankets….
“Also killed were a 24-year-old man found at the top of the stairs and a 28-year-old woman.” (Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, Victoria TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD. 2-28-1994. Accessed at: Newspaperarchives.com
Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, Victoria TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A. Accessed 5-27-2016 at: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19940227&id=AzhOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6UoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,6125903&hl=en
Baltimore Sun. “Fatal Fires.” 5-23-2007. Accessed 5-26-2016 at: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-05-23/news/0705230028_1_baltimore-rowhouse-rowhouse-fire-baltimore-fire