One Death in Early Morning Westminster House Fire

Deputy State Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of Stanley J. Kundin, 80, early Tuesday morning. Initial estimates value the damages at close to $1.5 million.

Kundin was found by firefighters in the basement of the single story, wood frame ranch style home at 3205 Old Washington Road in Westminster according to a news release from the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

At approximately 1:05 a.m. family members heard a smoke alarm and saw smoke coming from the area of the bedroom of the victim and called 911. Dennis and Malinda Kundin along with their three daughters escaped the blaze without injury but were not able to access the victims’ bedroom, the news release reports.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Bruce D. Bouch told Patch that due to a valuable collection the victim had in the house, the value of the damages is estimated at close to $1.5 million.

Bouch said that there was "a lot of burning" in the area of the victim's bedroom, speculating that the fire may have originated there. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Approximately 60 firefighters from Gamber, Winfield, Westminster, Reese, Lineboro, Sykesville, Reisterstown, Pleasant Valley, Hampstead and Baltimore County Station 56 controlled the blaze within 1 1⁄2 hours.

No other injuries were reported.

The cause of death of the victim will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Investigators from the Maryland State Police are assisting with the investigation.