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Maryland Fire Deaths of Two Frostburg State University Students Caused by Overheated Pipe

By Jack Lebowitz, Esq. and Vadim Mzhen, Esq.

Investigators are now saying that the apartment fire that killed Frostburg State University students Alyssa Salazar, 20, and Evan Kullberg, 23, occurred because of an overheated flue pipe. The fatal Maryland fire occurred early Friday.

According to the state fire marshal?s office, the three alarm fire was caused by the flue pipe that went from a wood-burning stove through a wooden-frame wall on the first floor to the structure?s exterior. There is no indication that the smoke alarms in the couple?s apartment were working. Also, the building was constructed before the enactment of a 1990 law requiring new multifamily structures to set up sprinkler systems.

The state medical examiner?s preliminary findings is citing smoke inhalation as the two students? cause of death. Salazar died on her birthday.

Maryland Premises Liability
Property owners and managers are supposed to make sure that their buildings are free from any hazards that could contribute to injury or death. This means making sure that there are no safety violations and that the appropriate devices, such as smoke detectors and fire alarms, and exit routes are in place in the event of the emergency. The building, its facilities, and utilities should also be properly maintained.

If someone you love was killed in an accident on a property that is owned or managed by another party, you may have grounds for a Maryland wrongful death lawsuit. If faulty maintenance or a product defect was a factor in causing the fatality, you also may have reason to seek damages from the product manufacturer or the company that provided the inadequate maintenance.

Fire that killed 2 Frostburg students was caused by overheated pipe, Baltimore Sun, December 6, 2010

No Smoke Detectors Found in Fatal Fire Near Md. Campus, Firehouse.com, December 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Fire Protection and Prevention, Maryland Code (PDF)

Fire Safety

Premises Liability, Maryland Accident Law Blog

Burn Injuries, Maryland Accident Law Blog

Losing someone you love in any accident undoubtedly feels senseless and tragic. There are steps that you can take to hold the negligent parties liable. Contact our Baltimore personal injury law firm today.

Full post as published by Maryland Accident Law Blog on December 07, 2010 (boomark / email).