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Bradley White, 55, the owner of White’s Bicycles on West Main Street in Westminster was pronounced dead on Monday, Dec. 12, when a fire broke out at his business and spread to nearby apartments and other buildings, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Shortly after 5:15 a.m. on Monday morning, crews from the Westminster Fire Department and surrounding agencies from Carroll, Baltimore, York, and Adams counties responded to a reported building fire at the bike shop.
Upon arrival, firefighters say that they were met with heavy smoke coming from the building and crews subsequently began to rescue tenants from 10 apartments that are housed above the business.
Firefighters continued their search and eventually located White inside. Firefighters were able to pull him from the building, paramedics performed CPR and the business owner was transported to Carroll Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead on Monday morning.
Officials said that the fire marshal and Westminster Police Department worked through the morning to determine the cause and official origin of the fire.
According to the preliminary investigation, fire marshals determined that the fire originated within the office of the bike shop, where White was reportedly living. They noted that the building was equipped with an automated fire sprinkler system, though the office had no sprinkler coverage.
Investigators said that once the fire spread from the office, it was extinguished by fire sprinklers, allowing 30 tenants above the bike shop and adjoining apartments above Johansson’s Dining House to escape safely.
No other injuries were reported.
Tenants who were displaced by the fire are being assisted by the Red Cross. The Carroll County Building and Fire inspectors are assisting OSFM Fire Safety Inspectors in addressing non-related fire and safety code issues in both buildings.
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