A Pasadena, Maryland, couple died in an early Thursday morning house fire that investigators say was accidental, having started in the kitchen.
The two have been identified as James Griffin, 74, and Patsie L. Griffin, 79.
The Griffins are Anne Arundel County’s first fire fatalities of 2021.
The fire that was reported at 12:33 a.m. trapped them in their single-story home.
One of the two managed to call for help and said “the house was full of smoke and that they were unable to evacuate,” said Anne Arundel Fire Battalion Chief Russ Davies.
When firefighters arrived at the house in the 1300 block of Thomas Road, “they had smoke coming from the eaves of all four sides of the home,” Davies said.
“Fire investigators have been inside they have determined this was an accidental fire. It started in the kitchen in the area of the stove.
“To have a fire like this anytime of the year is tragic. This time of the year, we’re more prone to see these because it’s colder and people are heating their homes. And then there’s the added tragedy that it’s around the holidays,” Davies said.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. One hurt an ankle. The other had a hand laceration
Here’s the area where the fire occurred:
WTOP’s Luke Lukert reported from Pasadena. WTOP’s Luke Garrett contributed to this story.
