CUMBERLAND — A rescued 7-year-old girl died of injuries a short time later and her 4-year-old sister was found deceased after fire swept through two of five rowhouses in the 300 block of East Harrison Street shortly before dawn Friday.
The 6:05 a.m. fire claimed the life of Paige M. Ford, who was rescued from a second-floor window in cardiac arrest, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. She received CPR at the scene and was rushed to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Her younger sister, Jymera D. Ford, was found deceased in the second-floor bedroom after the fire suppression activities rendered the building safe for re-entry.
The children’s mother, Tandra Ford, was being treated for smoke inhalation.
Five other occupants of 309 E. Harrison St., including an 8-month-old boy, escaped the fire without injury.
Investigators said the fire originated in the first-floor living room of the Ford residence.
An unidentified Cumberland Police officer on duty at the Martin’s Food Market substation on Park Street was first on the scene and attempted to enter the rear of the fire-engulfed, two-story rowhouse where two children were seen at a second-floor window. Intense fire prevented access through the back door before the officer tried in vain to enter the front door, according to Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“The police officer confirmed entrapment of victims in the residence and a couple children were seen at the front window on the second floor. Cumberland Fire Department arrived and pulled the first victim out and did CPR. The child was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead,” said Mowbray.
“Firefighters entered and did a search when they were overcome by heat and fire and had to come out head first onto the ladder at the second-floor window and then (one) fell two stories to the ground. The firefighter valiantly continued to fight the fire before he was taken to the hospital,” said Mowbray.
Preliminary reports indicated three families were displaced from the five-unit rowhouse complex where two units were vacant. Two units were involved in the fire, which traveled into the attics of the other units, Mowbray said.
A joint investigation into the cause and origin of the fire was launched by the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and City Fire Marshal Lt. Shannon Adams.
“We have four state fire marshals on the scene and a K-9 fire investigation team is en route here. The C3I Unit is conducting the death investigation,” said Mowbray.
No information was immediately available concerning the cause of the fatal fire.
“We’re just now getting into the buildings to begin our investigation,” said Mowbray about four hours after more than 100 firefighters responded to the 6:05 a.m. incident just off the Maryland Avenue exit of westbound Interstate 68.
The American Red Cross was providing food, clothing and shelter assistance to the families involved.
“Trained Red Cross disaster mental health workers are also on hand to provide emotional support, and caseworkers will continue to assist everyone involved until all of their immediate needs have been met,” said Douglas Lent, spokesman for American Red Cross Chesapeake Region.
Three city firefighters suffered injuries and were treated at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center before they were released from the emergency room. Three additional firefighters were injured and treated at the scene.
Three of the rowhouses were damaged by the fire. Two were not damaged. Total property loss was estimated at $200,000, according to the fire marshal’s office.
No working smoke alarms were located during the on-scene investigation.
Cumberland Police directed traffic and utility companies also responded to the scene.
Late Friday afternoon, city resident Krista Whitacre announced that The Caleb Ian James Whitacre Foundation would hold a candle-lighting on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. near the residence of the Ford family. Donations and candles may be brought to 508 Hill St.
Friday’s fire was the second fatal fire in the city in two months. On Dec. 11, three women died in an accidental fire on Estella Street.
Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.
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