Two people are dead and a child is in critical condition following an apartment building fire in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Tuesday morning, according to officials.
The Prince George’s Fire and Rescue Department said first responders arrived on Harry S. Truman Drive at the Northampton Apartment Homes in Largo, after receiving a call just after 3:45 a.m.
When crews arrived at the scene, part of a stairwell collapsed, and flames could be seen coming through the top of one of the apartment complexes.
Fire officials told WTOP that the fire happened on the third level of the apartment building and caused the roof to collapse. Crews were able to put out the fire just before 4:45 a.m.
A young boy pulled out of the fire remains in “very critical condition.” A man was also pronounced dead.
Hours after firefighters arrived on the scene, another victim was found; a woman’s body was buried under the rubble.
A neighbor told WTOP that the man who died was the father of the child pulled from the apartment, but his relationship with the boy has not been verified.
Damage was mostly contained to the one apartment building, but officials told WTOP that some of the fire extended to nearby buildings.
A dog that was inside the apartment during the fire was also rescued and resuscitated.
Lukert reported that smoke continued to smolder hours after flames were extinguished.
Fire investigators are at the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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WTOP’s Luke Lukert reported from the scene in Largo.