Baltimore County Fire Department reported a 79-year-old man died Saturday morning after succumbing to injuries he suffered after discarding items in a burn barrel on his Dundalk property.
He was identified as Herminio Quinto of the 1900 block of Tolson Avenue.
Baltimore County police and fire crews were called to the scene for a welfare check on Mr. Quinto Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4:43 a.m.
It was revealed that the victim was burning personal papers and cardboard in the rear yard of his property in a burn barrel.
It appears he used gasoline to accelerate the fire in the burning barrel when the fire erupted and involved him.
Fire investigators ruled the fire accidental due to the use of gasoline as an accelerant.
This tragic incident marks the fifth fire fatality in 2026 in Baltimore County.
Baltimore County Fire Department said it has seen a rise in deadly residential fires in the past two months. For fire safety tips, free home fire safety inspections, and to see if you are eligible for a free smoke alarm, visit our Community Risk Reduction page or call 410-887-1822.
Please take appropriate safety precautions when using outdoor burning devices. For further guidance and information regarding open burning, visit the Office of the Fire Marshal’s page:
