The Taneytown fire claimed the life of a woman and her pets.

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A quiet Maryland home became the scene of a deadly discovery after firefighters were called for what was first believed to be a carbon monoxide incident.

An 84-year-old woman was found dead following a house fire in Carroll County that investigators now believe may have smoldered unnoticed overnight, officials said.

Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company responded around 4:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, to a home in the 3400 block of Francis Scott Key Highway, after receiving a report of a possible carbon monoxide-related emergency, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

When crews arrived, they discovered that a fire inside the residence had already self-extinguished.

Inside the home, firefighters found the homeowner dead in a first-floor bedroom, investigators said.

A dog was also found dead in the same bedroom. A cat was located deceased in the dining room, and several pet birds were discovered dead in the basement.

The victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy is pending. 

While the manner of death remains under investigation, preliminary findings indicate smoke inhalation may have played a role, officials said.

Although formal identification will be made by the medical examiner, investigators believe the victim was 84-year-old homeowner Jeanie Shifflett.

Deputy State Fire Marshals determined the fire originated in the unfinished basement of the home.

While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, investigators said they are focusing on accidental causes.

Extensive soot and smoke damage were found throughout the first floor, and cold temperatures in the basement led investigators to believe the fire may have occurred overnight.

Officials said the last known contact with Shifflett was approximately two days before the fire was discovered.

The home was equipped with smoke alarms, though investigators are still determining whether the alarms activated during the incident.

Damage to the residence and its contents is estimated at $150,000.

A joint investigation between the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office remains ongoing, which is standard procedure in fatal fire cases.