79-year-old man dies in Dundalk fire

Herminio Quinto was burning paper and cardboard when the fire erupted back at him

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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A 79-year-old man named Herminio Quinto died in a fire in Dundalk, Maryland over the weekend. Fire officials say Quinto was burning paper and cardboard in his backyard and used gasoline to try to accelerate the fire, which then erupted back at him and engulfed his body in flames. Quinto died from his injuries.

Why it matters

This tragic incident marks the fifth fire death in Baltimore County so far this year, highlighting the ongoing risks and dangers of home fires, especially for elderly residents.

The details

According to Baltimore County fire officials, the fire occurred early Saturday morning on Tolson Avenue in Dundalk. Quinto was attempting to burn paper and cardboard in his backyard when he used gasoline in an effort to speed up the fire, but the flames then erupted back towards him and his body was engulfed.

  • The fire occurred early Saturday morning on February 8, 2026.

The players

Herminio Quinto

A 79-year-old man who died in the Dundalk fire.

Baltimore County Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to and investigated the fatal fire.

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The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the importance of fire safety, especially for elderly residents who may be at higher risk. It also highlights the need for continued education and prevention efforts to reduce the number of home fire fatalities in the Baltimore area.