House Fire Kills 6 Including 4 Children in Maryland

A devastating house fire in Waldorf, Charles County, Maryland, has claimed the lives of six people, including four children, marking the state's deadliest residential fire in over a decade. The fire, reported early Sunday morning, engulfed a six-bedroom home where nine people lived; two were not home and one adult managed to escape. Approximately 70 firefighters battled the blaze for more than an hour before bringing it under control, with one firefighter hospitalized and another treated at the scene for injuries. Investigators, including the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, say the fire likely started on the front porch within an enclosed area, but no evidence of arson has been found and the exact cause remains under investigation. Officials have not released the names or ages of the victims and it is unclear if the home had working smoke alarms, though authorities emphasized the importance of smoke detectors and fire drills. The tragedy has deeply affected the community and local schools, with ongoing efforts to determine the cause and provide answers to the family and public.