SUSAN PHILLIPS
WUSA9
Reprinted with Permission

OXON HILL, Md. (WUSA) - Firefighters have discovered the body of a man after battling a house fire in Oxon Hill and overcoming complications from this morning's massive water main break.


Mark Brady, spokesman for Prince George's County Fire and EMS, says firefighters were called to a the fire at 305 Corla Drive around 8:20 a.m. Firefighters arriving on scene found low water pressure in the area when they went to work to put out the flames. Brady says two extra tankers were automatically dispatched to the fire scene because of the potential for water pressure problems caused by a break in a 54 inch water main that serves areas south of Central Avenue.

Brady says extra tankers were moved into areas affected by the water main break earlier this morning. Each tanker carries 2,000 gallons of water. Each fire engine also carries 500 gallons of water, which the responding crews used to knock out most of the flames.

Firefighters hit hot spots using water from the extra tankers called to the scene.

The fire victim has not yet been identified. Brady says the fire victim was mobility challenged.

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor says a caretaker was in the home at the time and jumped from a second story window. She was transported to the hospital with leg injuries and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.