Three Children Killed In Cecil County Fire Saturday Morning

From the State Fire Marshal’s Office:

(May 15, 2010) – Deputy State Fire Marshal’s are currently on scene conducting an investigation into the cause of an early morning fire that claimed the lives of three children and sent their mother by Maryland State Police helicopter to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center.

The 3:27 a.m. fire at 50 Cedar Hill Circle in North East, Cecil County was reported by the occupant, Jewel M. Johnson (29).

Cecil County Paramedics arrived on the scene quickly and rescued Ms. Johnson from a first floor roof. She was treated at the scene and subsequently transported to the burn center with 17% burns and smoke inhalation injuries. Ms. Johnson is currently in critical and stable condition.

The bodies of the three children were located on the second floor of the two story center unit townhouse. The Office of the State Medical Examiner is on scene to remove the victims and transport them to Baltimore to confirm their identities and cause of death.

The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time. Damages are estimated at approximately $350,000. A team of State Fire Marshal’s and investigators from both the Maryland State Police and Cecil County Sheriff’s Office remain on the scene to continue the investigation.