Man, 82, Dies in Dundalk House Fire

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

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 BCoPD 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 one-alarm 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.