Hollywood House Fire
Maryland father dies searching for child in house fire; fireworks eyed as cause
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Key Points
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The incident occurred in the 22800 block of Thornbury Drive in Hollywood, Maryland (St. Mary's County), with the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and several nearby departments responding shortly after 9:30 p.m.
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The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene during the response.
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Officials have not publicly identified the deceased; authorities confirmed he was the child's father and homeowner, with the name withheld at this time.
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Investigators are examining whether spent fireworks discarded into a trash can on the screened-in rear deck may have heated enough to ignite the trash and start the fire.
A Maryland father is dead after he ran back into his burning home Sunday night to save his 10-year-old child — not knowing the child had already escaped safely. Fox 10 reported that the fire broke out around 9:40 p.m. in the 22800 block of Thornbury Drive in Hollywood, Maryland, in St. Mary's County.
The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and several nearby units arrived to find heavy fire tearing through the two-story home. The child got out on their own. The father did not. Officials confirmed he was the homeowner and the child's father, but have not publicly released his name.
Father Reentered the Home and Never Came Out
The father believed his child was still trapped inside, according to WCAX. He went back in. By that point, the 10-year-old had already made it out safely. Firefighters brought the flames under control, but when they searched the home, they found the father dead inside.
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene. The Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death. Officials have withheld the father's name for now, WAFB reported.
Spent Fireworks in a Trash Can May Have Started the Blaze
Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal are looking at a possible cause. According to KLTV, spent ground-based sparklers and other fireworks were discarded into a trash can sitting on the screened-in rear deck. The heat from those spent fireworks may have been enough to ignite the trash.
The investigation is still ongoing. Multiple agencies are reviewing evidence from the scene. No official cause has been confirmed yet.
Fire Marshal Warns: Soak Your Spent Fireworks
Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray issued a direct warning after the incident. He urged all residents to soak spent fireworks in water before throwing them away. He also said to place them in a noncombustible — meaning fireproof — container and leave it outside, according to WLFI.
The message is simple: fireworks that look finished can still hold enough heat to start a fire. A metal bucket or container kept outdoors can stop that heat from spreading. This fire shows what can happen when that step is skipped.
A Child Safe, a Father Gone — the Human Cost
The 10-year-old survived. That part of the story ended without tragedy. But the father who ran into the flames to find that child did not make it out. His instinct to protect his child cost him his life, Fox 10 reported.
The case remains active. Authorities have not said whether charges or citations are expected. For now, the focus is on completing the investigation and honoring the fire marshal's call for safer fireworks habits — especially in the days after July 4th.
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