One dead, another critically injured in Annapolis townhome fire

One person died and another was critically injured in a townhome fire in Annapolis early Sunday morning.

Annapolis firefighters responded around 4:40 a.m. to the 1800 block of Copeland Street, where they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor of a two-story home.

Officials said the fire started in the basement and quickly spread throughout the home, forcing several occupants to jump from the second floor to escape.

Rescue crews found one person severely injured in the yard. The victim was airlifted by Maryland State Police Aviation to a local burn center for treatment.

During a search of the home, firefighters found another person dead inside.

Fire crews took about an hour to bring the blaze under control. Approximately 55 firefighters from the Annapolis Fire Department, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Naval District Washington Fire and Emergency Services, and the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office responded to the scene.

Two firefighters suffered minor burns and were transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The American Red Cross and Anne Arundel County Mobile Crisis are assisting residents of the home and people displaced from neighboring residences.

The Annapolis Fire and Explosive Services Unit is investigating the cause of the fire and estimating the property damage.