1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208

Maryland State Fire Marshal

News Release
Martin OMalley Brian S. Geraci
Governor State Fire Marshal



CAUSE DETERMINED IN
LEXINGTON PARK FATAL FIRE

ST. MARYS COUNTY, MD (April 21, 2014) The Office of the State Fire
Marshal has determined the cause of the April 16, 2014 fatal fire. Investigators found an
operating burner on the electric stove was on a low setting and came into contact with
combustibles that resulted in a fast moving fire producing heavy smoke and flames.

The 1:16 p.m. accidental fire at 19555 Three Notch Road was located by the
victims caretaker, Delores Pennington. After attempting to extinguish the fire, she
determined she was unable to control the flames and escaped to the exterior of the
dwelling and called 911. An active duty U.S. Marine, Jon Spindler, from the nearby
Patuxent River Naval Air Base, attempted to enter the structure to assist the victim. The
heavy smoke conditions thwarted his attempts to reach her. Both Pennington and Spindler
were treated and released at Medstar St. Marys Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

A preliminary report by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed the
victim, Marion W. Gatton (81) succumbed to smoke inhalation complicated by thermal
burn injuries received during the fire. Working smoke alarms were located inside the
dwelling.

###

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect
citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire
protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at:
www.mdsp.org/firemarshal and/or http://facebook.com/MarylandStateFireMarshal.
Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876