Elderly Man Dies After Being Trapped in Oxon Hill Fire

OXON HILL, MD — An 84-year-old man has died after a fire consumed a house in Oxon Hill over the weekend.

Firefighters arrived in the 6700 block of Belfast Place to find a one-story house with a basement in flames, according to a report from the Prince George's County Fire Department.

The person who dialed 911 informed responders that a male occupant was trapped in the house, prompting an "aggressive interior attack on the fire and simultaneous search for the trapped occupant," the report states.

"Within minutes, the bulk of the fire was extinguished and an adult male occupant was found deceased on the first floor," the report continues. "Upon further investigation it was determined the area of origin was the living room with the cause of the fire remaining under investigation."

Firefighters estimate the total damage at $100,000. A working smoke alarm went off in the basement, but there was no smoke alarm on the first floor where the fire originated.

A woman in her 80s was able to escape the house before the fire department arrived, and was sent to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Authorities identified the deceased as 84-year-old George W. Nauflett.

This is the seventh residential fire fatality in 2016 in Prince George's County. An eighth fire fatality was reported in Landover hours later, according to the report.

"The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department recommends that a working 10-year smoke alarm and CO detector be installed on every level of your home, especially outside of sleeping areas," the report states. "We further recommend that smoke alarms be installed inside of every bedroom and that occupants sleep with bedroom doors closed.

"Furthermore, we strongly recommend that residents plan and practice 2 ways out of every room in your home and designate a safe meeting place outside," it continues. "Exit drills apply to all residents that reside in homes, townhouses, dorms, apartments, etc. County residents in need of a working smoke alarm should call 311 and request an alarm be installed in your house and townhouse, free of charge."

Image via PGFD