Friday, Oct 16–Berlin Man Rescued From Fire

BERLIN – A Berlin man was seriously injured in a house fire on Flower Street late last Friday and his condition remained uncertain as of late this week.

Shortly before 11 p.m. last Friday, the Berlin and Showell Fire Companies were dispatched to a reported house fire on Flower Street in the area of Honeysuckle Lane on the east side of Berlin. First arriving units discovered the one-and-half story, split level residence with heavy smoke showing from three sides. Prior to the arrival of the first responders, it was advised an unknown individual was trapped inside the residence.

Neighbors, family and friends confirmed an individual, later identified as Rodney Christopher Belmont, 40, of Berlin, was still inside the residence. After entering the building and extinguishing much of the active fire, which had begun to show from the kitchen window, fire crews turned their attention to finding and rescuing Belmont. Meanwhile, a second rescue crew entered the burning residence and quickly located the victim in a bedroom.

According to reports, fire crews were able to rescue the victim from the smoke-filled residence and carried him to EMTs waiting in the front yard. The victim was quickly moved to an ambulance where EMTs were able to regain a pulse and respirations. The victim was transported first to Atlantic General Hospital and later flown to the Johns Hopkins Bay View Burn Center in Baltimore. Although his exact condition was not known late this week, the victim was unconscious but still alive when he was transported to the burn center in Baltimore, according to a Berlin Fire Company report.

Meanwhile, the Berlin and Showell Fire Companies, with assistance from the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Fire Departments, were able to quickly bring the blaze under control but firefighters remained on the scene for roughly three hours conducting overhaul and assisting with the investigation. It was determined the fire originated in the kitchen area of the residence, although the cause of the fire is still listed as undetermined.

In addition, there was a smoke detector located on the second floor of the dwelling, but it hasn’t been determined if it was working or not at the time of the fire. Anyone with additional information about the incident is urged to contact the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-632-5666.