A 2-year-old girl died in a fire last night that was blamed on someone playing with matches, while a resident of a senior citizens high-rise was found dead in another blaze, Baltimore fire officials said.
The child, Kaycie Storie, was found dead in the living room of her home in the 400 block of S. Smallwood St.
Her father and brother, 9, escaped the 8 p.m. fire unhurt, Battalion Chief Hector Torres said.
About the same time, a fire broke out on the top floor of a 10-story apartment building for senior citizens in the 800 block of N. Arlington Ave. Chief Torres said investigators had not determined the cause of that fire, which started in an apartment where an unidentified resident was found dead.
Firefighters and police officers evacuated the 10th floor. Three elderly residents were treated for smoke inhalation.
"The smoke was so thick I couldn't even see my feet," said Police Officer Raymond Rock, who was patrolling the area and helped in the evacuation.
Darlene Jordan, 36, said she was standing outside her home when she saw several people in the apartment building open their windows and yell for help.
"The flames were shooting straight up out of the roof," she said.