911 calls from deadly Maryland fire
Firefighters at Montgomery County, Maryland’s 911 center took two calls about the pre-dawn fire on Friday that killed one woman and left her adult son critically injured.
The first call was at 5:41 AM from a tenant who had a room in the basement of 11311 Gainsborough Road. He woke up to smell smoke and called 911 as he exited the house. The man calmly explained there were two people still trapped inside. The call-taker remained on the line until the first emergency personnel, police officers, arrived on the scene.
Also at 5:41 AM a neighbor called to report the house next door was on fire. This woman was quite excited and upset by the situation. The call-taker worked to calm her down and tried to elicit important information and provide instructions.
Arriving firefighter found Marilyn Ehrlich unresponsive in a second floor hallway. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Moments later, her son was discovered near the kitchen on the first floor. They were able to revive him and at last word he was in critical, but stable condition.
