CATONSVILLE, Md. — A popping sound from the fire on the top floor of the building in the Meadow Lane apartment complex in Catonsville woke up Adrienne Folks’ boyfriend who sprung into action.
“He went in and banged on the door to wake him up,” said Folks, “He tried to kick his door in, but he couldn’t get it to budge.”
Residents here say each of the units have their own smoke detector, but for some reason, none of them went off.
Folks’ boyfriend took it upon himself to sound an alarm, running from one door to the next, yelling for people to get out.
“So if he didn’t wake up, it’s hard to say. We might have even been burnt up, because I live right here in the second floor right next to the third floor where the fire was,” Folks added, “There’s five other families in that building.”
Firefighters were able to extract the victim, 38-year-old Urian Bridges, from the unit where the fire started who initially was reported to be in critical condition, but a family member that we spoke with told us he later died, and the fire department has now confirmed that.
“Funny. If you knew him, you loved him. Outgoing,” said Folks, describing the victim, “There was many a night I got off work, dark parking lot, he sat out here and watched me to make sure I got in safe. Very hilarious person, and it’s just sad. Now, a two-year-old’s without a daddy.”
Investigators ruled the fire accidental due to unattended cooking.
