United States (Maryland) - Cumberland Fire Department Lt. Mike Kerns was en route to his second job a couple of hours after going off-duty Friday morning when he ran into trouble. I saw heavy smoke and knew we hadn't got a call on anything yet, so I drove toward the smoke, said the paramedic, who has served with the city fire department for the past 19 years.

Kerns drove to the rear of 217 Carroll St., where heavy white smoke billowed from the two-story frame home located off Cumberland Street.

"Mr. (Eugene) Trottier was walking on the side of the house and the whole front was on fire. He said his wife was trapped inside. I called 911 but the line was busy. I called back and then tried to kick the side door in but it was blocked with a side panel. I tried to enter the back door but it was locked," said Kerns.

At about the same time, Cumberland Police Officer Michael Cannon arrived to find Trottier on the front porch. Trottier was taken across the street to safety before Cannon and fellow officer Cpl. Andy Tichnell tried to access the smoke-filled building. They too were blocked by heavy smoke and an inaccessible side door.

Cumberland firefighters John Miller and Bryan Ward then entered the fire-engulfed dwelling.

"They found the victim on the living room floor and carried her out," said Deputy Chief Bill Beeghly, who was the initial incident commander before Chief Bill Herbaugh arrived to assume command of the fire operation.

Carol Trottier was taken to a waiting Cumberland Fire Department Ambulance where assistance was given by paramedics Kerns and Lt. Shannon Adams and a third paramedic en route to Memorial Hospital. Early reports at the scene indicated Carol Trottier was conscious when she was rescued but had apparently suffered severe injuries that included respiratory burns. She was listed in critical condition at mid-afternoon, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

At late morning, city firefighters continued to pour hundreds of gallons of water on the large wood-frame structure, using the department aerial ladder and with assistance of volunteer firefighters from Ridgeley, W.Va., LaVale and Bowling Green.

While dozens of firefighters worked to control the 9:20 a.m. fire, Cumberland Street resident Sherry Hartman comforted Eugene Trottier.

"He was sitting on the curb. I put a blanket around him and sat there and prayed with him. He was in shock. Iￃﾢ￢ﾂﾬￋﾆjust hope Mrs. Trottier is OK," said Hartman, who discovered the fire as she and her son Michael were walking in a rear alley to their parked car. "My son tried to break in the side door but he couldn't get in."

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire marshal's office, Cumberland Fire Department and the C3I Unit due to the severity of the victim's injuries.

Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said the fire originated in the living room.

The American Red Cross also provided assistance.

Firefighters were still on the scene about three hours after the initial alert. Off-duty city firefighters manned the central station during the emergency along with volunteer firefighters from Wiley Ford, W.Va. and District 16 companies. Cumberland Police controlled traffic during the incident.

Written by Cumberland Times-News