Cause of May 30 fire in Pikesville electrical
Autopsy: Woman's death due to smoke inhalation
By Jay R. Thompson
jthompson@patuxent.com
Posted 6/26/09
Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the May 30 fire in the 6600 block of Copper Ridge Drive in Pikesville was electrical, according to Elise Armacost, spokeswoman for the county fire department.
Kristen Chencus, 34, died in the fire, and an autopsy was performed to determine the cause of her death. The State Medical Examiner’s Office said that Chencus’ death was accidental and due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
Emergency crews responded to the call shortly after 1 a.m., May 30, searched the first-floor apartment and discovered Chencus, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire caused an estimated $400,000 in damage to the Bonnie Ridge Apartment complex off Smith Avenue, a few blocks east of the Bonnie Ridge Golf Course.
About 30 minutes after they arrived, the 75 firefighters had the blaze under control.
Fire investigators found a smoke detector in Chencus’ apartment, but it is unknown whether the detector was functioning at the time of the fire.
Two apartments were directly involved in the fire and three others were damaged. Half a dozen residents were displaced, but no other civilians or fire personnel were injured.
The May 30 fire was the second of three unrelated apartment fires that burned within 12 days of one another.
The first was on May 24, in which 110 firefighters took about three hours to control a blaze in the 4600 block of Horizon Court, in Pikesville.
That Sunday evening fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage to 24 apartments in two buildings. No deaths or injuries resulted from the fire, but 36 residents were displaced.
In a May 26 statement, the fire department said the May 24 fire had been ruled as accidental. The cause of the fire was a child playing with a cigarette lighter.
The third fire, in the 200 block of St. David Court in Cockeysville, brought 100 volunteer and professional firefighters to the Hampton Manor Apartments in the final minutes of June 4. Firefighters didn’t get control of the fire until 3:30 a.m. June 5.
Thirty-three families were displaced by the fire, but no firefighters or civilians were injured or killed. The fire caused an estimated $900,000 in damage to 36 apartments in two buildings.
As of June 26, fire investigators had not determined the cause of the fire.
Kristen Chencus, 34, died in the fire, and an autopsy was performed to determine the cause of her death. The State Medical Examiner’s Office said that Chencus’ death was accidental and due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
Emergency crews responded to the call shortly after 1 a.m., May 30, searched the first-floor apartment and discovered Chencus, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire caused an estimated $400,000 in damage to the Bonnie Ridge Apartment complex off Smith Avenue, a few blocks east of the Bonnie Ridge Golf Course.
About 30 minutes after they arrived, the 75 firefighters had the blaze under control.
Fire investigators found a smoke detector in Chencus’ apartment, but it is unknown whether the detector was functioning at the time of the fire.
Two apartments were directly involved in the fire and three others were damaged. Half a dozen residents were displaced, but no other civilians or fire personnel were injured.
The May 30 fire was the second of three unrelated apartment fires that burned within 12 days of one another.
The first was on May 24, in which 110 firefighters took about three hours to control a blaze in the 4600 block of Horizon Court, in Pikesville.
That Sunday evening fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage to 24 apartments in two buildings. No deaths or injuries resulted from the fire, but 36 residents were displaced.
In a May 26 statement, the fire department said the May 24 fire had been ruled as accidental. The cause of the fire was a child playing with a cigarette lighter.
The third fire, in the 200 block of St. David Court in Cockeysville, brought 100 volunteer and professional firefighters to the Hampton Manor Apartments in the final minutes of June 4. Firefighters didn’t get control of the fire until 3:30 a.m. June 5.
Thirty-three families were displaced by the fire, but no firefighters or civilians were injured or killed. The fire caused an estimated $900,000 in damage to 36 apartments in two buildings.
As of June 26, fire investigators had not determined the cause of the fire.
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