Man killed in early-morning Rising Sun house fire

RISING SUN - A man was killed early Friday morning in a blaze inside his Rising Sun home, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Investigators have preliminarily identified the victim as 55-year-old Jeffrey Scott Jackson, whom paramedics pronounced dead at the scene in the 100 block of Cooper Avenue, across from the Rising Sun Middle School. Jackson's body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, where a positive identification will be made and the cause of death will be determined, fire officials reported.

A passerby called 911 at 4:19 a.m. Friday after discovering the burning Cooper Avenue house, prompting area volunteer fire companies to respond, fire officials said. The Community Fire Company of Rising Sun served as the on-scene command unit, fire officials added.

"When firefighters arrived, they observed fire and smoke coming from the eaves of the house. They were told by neighbors that someone might be inside the house. Firefighters made entry though the back door and, as soon as they were inside, they immediately located the victim on the floor, just inside that door," outlined Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver J. Alkire, an agency detective and spokesman.

Firefighters removed Jackson from the house and, after attempting emergency medical care, paramedics pronounced him dead. Jackson was the sole occupant of the house, Alkire noted.

Approximately 35 volunteer firefighters battled the blaze for about 20 minutes before bringing it under control, according to Alkire, who further reported that the fire caused an estimated $200,000 in structural damage to the one-story house, which, based on the preliminary investigation, was not equipped with smoke detectors.

During their on-scene investigation, MOSFM detectives determined that the blaze started in the attic, fire officials said. As of late Friday morning, however, the cause of the blaze remained under investigation, fire officials added.

MOSFM detectives believe that Jackson discovered the blaze and attempted to go into the attic to extinguish the fire, according to Alkire.

"We have evidence that he pulled down the attic ladder, which is in the kitchen where he was found, and attempted to make entry. He was injured in the process. We are theorizing that he was overcome by the smoke and the heat when he pulled down the attic ladder," Alkire explained.

A joint investigation by the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division is continuing, Alkire reported, noting that the involvement of MSP's CED is standard operating procedure whenever a fatal fire occurs.