Chillum, MD – Twin toddlers and their grandparents were killed in a house fire early Tuesday in Chillum, Maryland.

Firefighters in Prince George’s County were called to the scene of the fire around 2:15 a.m. on Knollbrook Drive, near Conley Road off Highway 410.

Seven people were inside the home when the fire broke out, according to Prince George’s County Fire spokesman Mark Brady.

“Initial reports indicated somebody could still be inside that house, and firefighters did go inside and locate four people,” he says.

He says 2-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, and their grandparents were pulled from the home with critical injuries and later died.

The twins have been identified as Anna and Israel Omijie. Both were taken to a local hospital and were pronounced dead shortly after, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor says.

The children’s grandmother has been identified as 55-year-old Caroline Omogbo, who was pronounced dead on the scene. Bashoor says the children’s grandfather, 63-year-old Samson Omogbo, was found dead inside the home.

The twins’ mother was hurt jumping from a second-floor window to escape. Bashoor says she was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

“The family was renting this home,” Bashoor says. “I am sorry to say that there is, so far, no evidence of a smoke alarm in the home.”

Brady says the fire was already raging when crews arrived, adding that flames were shooting out of every door and window.

“In addition to the cold, we have frozen ladders, a frozen hose, firefighters that have ice hanging off of them,” Bashoor says.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Preliminary investigation suggests there is “no evidence of anything suspicious,” Bashoor says.

The cost of damage is estimated to be around $250,000.

“There’s one other fact today that makes this an especially poignant day, and that is that this is the one-year anniversary of the Annapolis fire, where four children and their grandparents perished in the fire, so it’s going to be a rough day for the firefighters that are here,” Bashoor says.

He adds that firefighters will return to the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon to check smoke alarms.

 

Article source: http://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2016/01/4-pulled-from-burning-home-in-chillum/slide/1/