Shortly after 2 a.m., units from Chillum, Chillum-Adelphi and surrounding companies including Engine & Truck 801 were alerted for the house fire at 6720 Knollbrook Drive. Paramedic Engine 844 arrived on the scene with fire and smoke showing, confirming people trapped.
Story via Prince George’s County Fire/EMS
Four members of a Chillum family perished when their home caught fire and they were trapped inside. Firefighters were alerted to the house fire at 2:03 this morning after a neighbor called 911 to report a house across the street was on fire. Subsequent 911 callers reported that people were trapped inside the burning house at 6720 Knollbrook Drive in Chillum. Firefighters arrived just 4 minutes after being alerted and arrived to find a 2-story single family home with fire and smoke showing from every window and door on the front, rear and side on both floors of the house. Frantic family members out front confirmed to firefighters that multiple people were trapped inside.
Firefighters knocked down a portion of the fire from the home’s exterior before making entry to search for the trapped occupants.
Firefighters quickly found and brought out 2-year twins, Anna Omijie and Israel Omijie, and immediately began CPR and transported them to Children’s National Medical Center. Tragically, both children were pronounced deceased a short time after arriving at the hospital.
The twin’s grandmother, 55-year-old Caroline Omogbo, was brought out by firefighters, where paramedics pronounced her deceased on the scene. Samson Omogbo, 63-year-old grandfather, was also pronounced deceased inside the home.
On location of Chillum house fire pic.twitter.com/l2tQ108Fw5
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) January 19, 2016
All of the deceased were located on the second floor in bedrooms. The twins in one bedroom and the grandparents in their own bedroom. The mother of twins jumped from a 2nd floor window and was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries to her extremities. Two other adult female family members were able to escape unharmed. Prince George’s and Montgomery County Firefighters completed extinguishment of the fire within 30 minutes of arrival.
Fire Investigators stated there is no evidence of a smoke alarm found in the home. The cause and origin investigation continues and for now the cause of the fire is undetermined. Nothing suspicious was found during the course of the investigation leading Investigators to believe the cause will be accidental, however, the investigation remains open and ongoing. Fire loss is estimated at $250,000. Firefighters will be returning to the Knollbrook community at 1:00 pm to check on neighbors smoke alarms. If one is found to be non-working, over 10 years old or missing a new 10-year smoke alarm will be installed, free of charge.
Unit Rundown (Partial)
- First Alarm: PE844, E801, E702, E855, TK834, TK801, TK812, A807, BATT4, BATT6
- WFD & Fire Task Force: E809, TK809, MEDIC 812, MEDIC 701, PE701, A701, AIR 716, BATT701, A844, A702, E701, TW716, MCU800, Northern EMS, Fire Investigations
- Chief 12, Corrigan, had the command.
Dispatch/Ops Audio
First 30 minutes audio via Broadcastify.com
Morning Briefing by Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Chief Bashoor
Knollbrook Drive house pic.twitter.com/fdoI6mA05z — Marc Bashoor (@PGFD_Chief) January 19, 2016
