11-Year-Old Boy Dies in Maryland Parsonsburg House Fire

An 11-year-old boy tragically died in a house fire early Friday morning on Zion Road in Parsonsburg, Maryland, despite rescue efforts after three adults escaped the home. The fire departments arrived around 4:20 a.m. to find heavy flames engulfing the one-and-a-half-story house, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators from the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division are conducting a joint investigation, with preliminary findings indicating that smoke alarms were present and activated, and the fire likely started at the rear of the home. Damages are estimated at $300,000, and the American Red Cross is assisting the grieving family. Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray emphasized the tragedy's reminder about the importance of working smoke alarms and practiced home escape plans, urging families to regularly test alarms and prepare for emergencies. The victim's name has not been released as the investigation continues.