Child dies after Christmas morning fire in Elkton

BALTIMORE -- A 10-year-old girl died in a fire Christmas morning in Elkton, the Maryland State Fire Marshal said. 

Firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the 300 block of Willow Drive around 7:30 a.m. on Monday. Firefighters found the family standing outside their home. They said a young girl was still inside.

It took 75 firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control.

At one point, some of the firefighters were able to enter the home and locate the child. She was pronounced dead at the site of the fire.

Five other family members lived in the home, including four adults and a 13-year-old, officials said.  

"I, and every member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, extend our sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends," Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in a statement. "It is a heartbreaking day for Elkton and the community of Winding Brook Village.

Nancy Minor lives just a couple of houses down from where the fire happened. She said she first heard banging on her front door.

"I threw some clothes on, came downstairs, and I went outside," she said. "[My husband said], 'Don't go out,' but I said, 'No, I need to find out what's going on.'"

Minor walked outside to see her street filled with fire engines and other first responders. She also saw the flames spread to another home.

"I just prayed," Minor said. "Stop the fire."

Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, told WJZ she really wanted to help the family.

"If you have a family, you have kids, you have anything sort of a family -- this is horrible," the neighbor said.

Minor said she didn't know the family who lives at the home that burned, but she said they have her heart.

"I can't imagine waking up Christmas morning to that and every other Christmas they're going to be remembering this. I just pray the Lord comforts them and helps them through this," she said.

The American Red Cross is helping the victim's family, as well as the family living in the other home that got burned in the fire.

A spokesperson for the American Red Cross - National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region said they typically respond to around 100 home fire related emergencies per month.