Victim Identified in Fatal Dundalk Fire

An 82-year-old man has died after being trapped yesterday inside a burning Dundalk rowhome.

Baltimore County Police have identified the victim as Richard L. Sprouse, of the 8000 block of Gray Haven Road, 21222.

Fire and Police units were dispatched at 12:51 p.m. to the 800 block of Gray Haven Road for a residential fire. While en route, crews learned that someone possibly was trapped on the second floor.

Two police officers who arrived first tried to reach the second floor to rescue the occupant but had to turn back due to heavy smoke and fire and intense heat.

Fire crews arrived three minutes later, found heavy fire on the second floor, and entered to search for the victim. They found him, in cardiac arrest, on the second floor and transferred him to the care of EMS providers.

He was transported in critical condition to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where doctors provided additional treatment before pronouncing him dead.

The fire was placed under control at 1:20 p.m.

BCoPD fire investigators have ruled this an accidental fire caused by an electrical failure in the victim’s mobility chair.

Benjamin Joseph

Benjamin Joesph has covered news in Eastern Baltimore County since 2006. He started as a reporter with the original East County Times in 2006. He started East Baltco News and later Eastcountytimes.com in 2022.