A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, when a father lost his life after rushing back into his burning home to save his 10-year-old son—unaware the boy had already escaped safely. Firefighters responded to the blaze around 9:40 p.m. and found the home heavily engulfed in flames. After bringing the fire under control, they discovered the father on the second floor.

Investigators believe the fire may have started after family members discarded used sparkler fireworks into a trash can on the home’s screened-in rear deck. Authorities are examining whether the fireworks remained hot enough to ignite nearby combustible materials, causing the devastating blaze.

Officials say the family had been using ground-based sparklers earlier that evening. The father reportedly believed his son was still trapped inside and rushed back into the house in a desperate rescue attempt. Tragically, the child had already made it out safely, but the father never returned.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released, and the official cause of death is still under investigation. Fire officials are urging everyone to handle used fireworks with extreme caution by soaking them in water and allowing them to cool completely in an outdoor metal container before disposal, reminding the public that fireworks can remain dangerously hot long after they appear to be extinguished.