DUNDALK, Md. — An 8-year-old is among six people hospitalized following an overnight house fire in Dundalk.
The call came in to the Baltimore County Fire Department around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday in the 3000 block of Dunleer Road.
One adult and four children escaped the burning home and were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
When firefighters arrived, they were told another child was still inside.
"They made entry rather quickly, and they did rescue one resident," Baltimore County fire lieutenant Twana Allen told reporters on the scene.
"We thought we saw everybody, but then a couple minutes later we wound up seeing a firefighter carry the 8 year-old out," Zac Richardson, who lives across the street, told WMAR-2 News.
The 8 year-old boy was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Two dogs and nine cats were pulled from the home. Fire officials confirmed all nine cats died. The dogs are said to be okay, and were taken to the vet with injuries.
“They were carrying a dog out unconscious. I heard all the dogs made it, so they must have brought him back to life. They were definitely working on a dog or two out on the front lawn," neighbor George Yeager said.
In all, seven residents were displaced. Neighbors are working on ways to support the family.
"We have a pretty tight-knit neighborhood, so I think everybody will do their best to come together and help out," Richardson said. "Because I know they’re gonna need help monetarily, emotionally, just with everything. They lost their whole life within a matter of minutes."
Lights and sirens woke up neighbors on this block.
"I woke up with the baby; I was feeding her, then I set her down, went to the bathroom, looked out the window and saw a bunch of lights, people around. I didn’t even see the fire at first, lifted up the blinds and saw fire coming out the front door there," Richardson said.
“Normally our trash gets picked up about 4 o’clock. I thought it was the trash truck coming down; that’s what woke me up. But it was obviously fire trucks coming down,“ Yeager told WMAR-2 News. "I saw smoke coming out of the house. I walked around back. They had a hook and ladder, firemen on the roof hatcheting through the roof.”
An investigation is underway to determine the cause.
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