Man dies in E. Baltimore row house fire

BALTIMORE - An elderly man is dead after he was overcome by smoke and flames in an East Baltimore row house Saturday morning.

Firefighters found 68-year-old Reginald Russell dead inside of 1510  Holbrook Street early Saturday.

Fire crews were called to the address around 2:40 a.m. When they arrived they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the first and second floor. As firefighters pushed their way into the house they found Russell in the entryway, already dead. According to officials, preliminarily, it appeared that Russell died from smoke inhalation and burns but police are investigating.

While searching for other people in the house a firefighter fell through the floor to the basement. He issued a MAYDAY and team members located and removed him unharmed.

Crews battled intense heat and flames but brought the fire under control at 3:08 a.m. It is unclear whether the home had any working smoke alarms.

Fire investigators and police arson detectives are working together to determine a cause of the fire.