HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Officials reported Tuesday that a woman rescued from a Hagerstown apartment fire last week has died from her injuries.
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal, Monae Williams-Lee, 50, of Hagerstown, died Monday evening, March 16, at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. She was one of two occupants rescued by firefighters after a blaze broke out early Friday, March 13, at 145 S. Prospect St.
A 17-year-old male who was also rescued remains hospitalized in critical condition. A third occupant, a 15-year-old boy, escaped unharmed after a smoke alarm activated, officials said.
“This heartbreaking incident reminds us that while smoke alarms save lives, every second counts in a fire,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said in a release. “We urge everyone to make sure smoke alarms are working and to have and practice a home escape plan.”
Investigators determined the fire began in the first-floor apartment’s living room and was caused by an unspecified electrical failure in the ceiling. The cause was ruled accidental. It originated where an earlier report had tentatively cited a ceiling fan malfunction, said Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire.
Firefighters encountered heavy flames on arrival. Several residents evacuated before crews entered the building, but reports indicated people were trapped inside. Firefighters located two unconscious victims on the first floor, moved them to an elevated rear deck, and transferred them to Community Rescue Service EMS personnel.
Roughly 67 firefighters from Hagerstown and surrounding companies responded to the scene, including units from Halfway, Maugansville, Longmeadow, Funkstown, Williamsport, Leitersburg and Greencastle. Crews brought the main fire under control within 80 minutes but remained several hours extinguishing flames inside wall and ceiling cavities.
The fire displaced eight residents and caused an estimated $300,000 in damage — $250,000 to the structure and $50,000 to contents, according to officials. Williams-Lee’s death marks Washington County’s first fire fatality of 2026.
