April 6th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Deputy State Fire Marshals from the Western Regional Office are continuing their investigation of a mobile home fire that claimed the life of a Garrett county man this morning.

On April 6, 2021 at 10:13 A.M. the Deer Park Community Volunteer Fire Department was alerted for a structure fire at 3153 Bethlehem Road in Oakland after a passerby called to report the blaze.

Upon the fire department’s arrival, they observed a 16’ by 42’ mobile home that was completely destroyed by fire.  It took 15 firefighters 10 minutes to bring the 1 alarm blaze under control.  Upon further inspection, the occupant of the home was found deceased inside the remains of the structure.

Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal were requested to conduct an origin and cause investigation of the fire.  Thus far investigators have determined that smoke alarms were present but do not believe they were functional.  It was learned that the occupant of the home was an avid smoker and was on home oxygen for health reasons.  This combination may have contributed to the cause of the fire however; an exact cause still remains under investigation.  Investigators are estimating a total of $15,000.00 in damages between the structure and its contents.

The owner of the mobile home is Richard Roderick; however, he was not the occupant who perished in the fire. 

Maryland State Police investigators are assisting fire investigators with the death investigation.  The remains of the deceased will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for identification and exact cause of death.

Deputy State Fire Marshals are asking anyone with information on this fire to call the Western Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at 301-766-3888.