Dry Christmas tree causes deadly mansion fire in Maryland, killing six

Authorities in the U.S. State of Maryland said Wednesday a deadly fire at a residential mansion in the state's Annapolis last week was caused by a dry Christmas tree, causing six deaths, including four children,

An electrical failure in the home's Great Room, which had six- meter-high ceilings and was connected to the sleeping and living areas, ignited the blaze on Jan. 19, which also burned down the six-million U.S. dollar house, according to a news statement of Annapolis County Fire Office.

It took the lives of mansion owners Don and Sandra Pyle, along with their four grand children aged from six to eight, the statement said, adding that it's believed all six died of smoke inhalation, but had yet to receive the final report from the medical examiner.

The five-meter-high Christmas tree had been cut about two months earlier and the family had gathered around it to celebrate Christmas last month, said the statement.

The house was equipped with a smoke alarm system monitored by a security company. In the morning of the fire, the alarm company received the alarm and called back the house but got no answer.

The company then called a nearby fire department to rush to the house, but the fire spread rapidly because Christmas trees can provide lots of fuel when they are dry, said local fire authorities. Endite