Megan McIlroy, The Examiner
2006-07-24 09:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Eldersburg, Md. -

A father and son died early Sunday morning when a two-alarm fire ripped through their Eldersburg home.

The victims are believed to be Richard Hamilton Stewart, 78, and Richard Hamilton Stewart II, 51, but investigators are waiting for a positive identification from the state medical examiner.

Deputy State Fire Marshal W. Faron Taylor said the fire began on the lower level of their split-level home in the 6000 block of Longmeadow Drive. Firefighters found who they believe to be the elder Stewart upstairs and the younger Stewart downstairs. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, and Taylor said he could not speculate about whether foul play was involved.

“Until we determine exactly what the cause is, nothing is ever ruled out,” he said.

A neighbor on Longmeadow Drive reportedly saw the fire Sunday morning at about 2 a.m. and notified the fire department.

About 60 firefighters from Carroll, Howard and Baltimore counties worked for an hour to subdue the blaze, Taylor said. The house is structurally intact, but is estimated to have about $200,000 worth of damage.

Taylor said the house, which was built in the late 1950s, has no working smoke alarms or fire sprinklers.

All newly constructed single-family houses in Carroll County must be equipped with fire sprinklers, according to a 2005 ordinance. Prince George’s, Montgomery and Frederick counties also have this requirement, Taylor said.

“In the history of residential fire sprinklers in the state of Maryland, we have had zero fatalities,” he said.

He said people who own homes built before the ordinance can retrofit their homes with fire sprinklers.

Taylor also said all houses must have a smoke alarm and a fire escape plan.

“If you do those two things, your chances of surviving jump about 50 percent,” he said.

mmcilroy@baltimoreexaminer.com