84-Year-Old Homeowner and Several Pets Found Dead.
Taneytown, MD (JK) – Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire in Taneytown that claimed the life of an 84-year-old homeowner and several pets. The incident occurred Friday, December 12, 2025, at a residence on 3404 Francis Scott Key Highway.
Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company responded around 4:15 p.m. for a reported carbon monoxide incident, but upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a fire inside the home had already self-extinguished. The homeowner was found deceased in a first-floor bedroom, along with a dog, while a cat was discovered in the dining room and multiple pet birds were located in the basement.
Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation, which is standard procedure in fatal fire cases. Preliminary findings indicate smoke inhalation may have contributed to the homeowner’s death, with the fire believed to have started in the unfinished basement. Officials are focusing on accidental causes, and the residence was equipped with smoke alarms, though it remains unclear if they were activated.
Damages to the home and its contents are estimated at $150,000. The investigation is ongoing, and the official cause of death and identification will be released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
By Jimmy Key