Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department
St. Clements Shores, MD – An elderly St. Mary’s County woman was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation that resulted from a house fire, state officials reported.
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze occurred Saturday evening, Dec. 13 at the woman’s residence on St. Clement Avenue in St. Clements Shores in the Leonardtown area.
The fire was reported shortly before 8 p.m.
“The [home] owner, Ruth Stewart, 91, accidentally left unattended grease on the stove causing a fire,” Dfm. Don Brenneman stated. “Ms. Stewart made several attempts to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. Ms. Stewart was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital due to smoke inhalation. The house was destroyed by the fire and the victim will be assisted by family.”
Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Bruce Bouch reported that Stewart has since been transported to Johns Hopkins’ Bayview Burn Center in Baltimore where she is recovering.
Forty firefighters from Leonardtown, Hollywood, Seventh District and Bay District were dispatched to the one-alarm blaze and brought the flames under control in 35 minutes. There were no other injuries reported.
The loss of Stewart’s home totals an estimated $200,000, Brenneman reported.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
