Two residents were killed and one off-duty Ocean City firefighter was injuries in a house fire Sunday. What remains of the structure is pictured.
Officials with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police continue to investigate the cause of a house fire that killed two people in Parsonsburg early Sunday and injured an off-duty Ocean City firefighter responding to the scene.
On Feb. 1, at around 2:40 a.m., a passerby called 911 to report smoke and flames coming from a home in the 32000 block of Old Ocean City Road in Parsonsburg, according to the state fire marshal’s office. He then knocked on the front door and windows to wake the owners.
It was around that same time an off-duty Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) firefighter, also a volunteer with the Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Company, arrived at the scene. The firefighter was later identified as OCFD’s community and department engagement officer, Ryan Whittington.
According to the state fire marshal’s office, Whittington kicked in the rear door of the home and discovered a victim. However, while attempting to remove the victim, he was overcome by heavy smoke and had to exit the home.
He was later flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a Baltimore area hospital. He is reported to be recovering at home this week.