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CHARLES COUNTY, MD – An elderly man was found dead in a brush fire at 11560 Acton Lane in Waldorf Wednesday afternoon. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office are examining the circumstances of his death.

On Tuesday, just before 4 p.m., firefighters from Charles and Prince George’s Counties responded to a reported brush fire, attended by Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies. They discovered the fire had spread to a vacant mobile home on the property and found the deceased man amidst the rubble.

The Deputy State Fire Marshal suspects the victim was 94-year-old homeowner Donald L. Halter. Neighbors reported that Halter frequently burned trash and brush and was seen on the tractor earlier in the day.

Maryland residents are reminded of the ongoing burn ban, which bans outdoor burning, including campfires. Deputy State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray expressed his sympathy for Halter’s family and emphasized the dangers of burning outdoors in hot, dry conditions.