Woman killed, 3 others displaced after house fire in Prince George's County

PRINCE GEOREGE'S CO., Md. - A woman was killed and three others have been displaced after a fire broke out at a home in Bladensburg. 

Prince George’s County firefighters responded to the home in the 5200 block of Varnum Street around 4:35 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report about a house on fire with an occupant trapped inside. 

Firefighters arrived at the scene in just a few minutes and found the two-story home completely engulfed in flames, with some shooting out of the windows. 

They initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and quickly found the woman dead inside the home. One additional person was in the residence when the fire occurred and was able to escape without injury.

The Prince George's County Fire Department and Police Department are conducting a joint investigation, which is standard in a death investigation. 

The cause of death and the identification of the woman will be released following an autopsy. 

Officials say as a result of the fire, three additional adults were displaced and are receiving relocation assistance from the Prince George's County Office of Emergency Management.

The fire department says over the last 30 days, they’ve responded to 23 structure fires in the county. They urge all residents to practice fire safety, to have an escape plan and ensure that a working smoke alarm is present in their home.

Prince George's County residents can have a smoke detector installed in their home by the fire department, free of charge, by calling (301) 583-2200.