NANJEMOY, Md. — Fire ravaged a single-story residence in the 8200 block of Gilroy Road on Saturday evening, Feb. 22, after a neighbor called 911 to report a house “full of flames” with an elderly woman inside. Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department and assisting units responded to the one-alarm fire, extinguishing it in approximately 30 minutes. The occupant escaped independently and was airlifted to a burn center by Trooper 2, while firefighters emerged unscathed. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is probing the fire’s origin.
The neighbor’s early evening alert—“her neighbor’s house was full of flames and the elderly woman was inside”—brought a rapid response. Firefighters arrived to a frame home engulfed in flames. Engine 42 led the charge with an aggressive interior attack, joined by Engine 83, Engine 211, Engine 12, Squad 7, Tanker 20, and Truck Wagon 3. Chief 4, Siarkowski, oversaw operations, setting up a water supply site. Crews rotated out for rehabilitation, controlling the blaze by around 6:30 p.m.
The elderly woman, unidentified publicly, made it out before crews reached her. Maryland State Police Trooper 2 flew her to a regional burn center, and she has since been released to recover with family. “We are so thankful the female occupant has been released and is recuperating with family members,” the Nanjemoy Volunteers said, grateful for her safety.
The firefighting operation demanded precision. Engine 42’s initial assault, supported by a robust lineup of units, contained the fire’s spread. The water supply site kept hoses flowing in the rural location, while crew rotations ensured stamina without compromising safety. No injuries among responders marked a successful effort, despite the fire’s intensity on arrival.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is now investigating, searching the charred remains for clues to the cause. The wooden home’s total involvement suggests a fast-moving fire, though specifics await the inquiry’s results. As of Feb. 24, the investigation continues without a determined origin.
