Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police Major Crimes Division and Fire Explosive Investigators with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service are investigating a death following a house fire Friday morning in Chevy Chase.
On Friday, April 3, 2026, at approximately 5:43am, 2nd District officers and Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a house fire in the 4700 block of Merivale Road.
Firefighters entered the home and located a resident suffering from life-threatening injuries. The resident, identified as 55-year-old Karen Elsa Carstens, was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.
A second resident was also transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At this time, investigators do not suspect foul play in Carstens’ death.
