2nd Alarm Apartment Fire

From 2nd Alarm Apartment Fire last night 4/25/15 - 3904 Blackburn La; 4-story apartment building. Probable Cause, improperly discarded smoking materials. Damage estimate of $450k; 12 families displaced with one minor injury. Photo via Burtonsville VFD Facebook Page

Residents Rescued from Two-Alarm Apartment Fire in Silver Spring

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 2, 2013

More than 100 firefighters battle blaze

Click on Photo to see more pictures from fire

Montgomery County, MD - - -  A two-alarm fire that damaged a number of units in a Silver Spring Apartment building has left one man, believed to be in his 60’s, in critical condition with life-threatening injuries at a local burn center. Several other residents, including a 6-year old child, were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging in severity.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched shortly before 7:00 a.m. to the Montgomery Towers apartment building at 415 Silver Spring Avenue for the report of an apartment fire. Units arrived on the scene with fire showing and heavy smoke conditions from a top floor apartment and requested additional units. Firefighters were able to successfully rescue several residents trapped by the fire including several dramatic rescues from a top floor balcony. At the height of firefighting operations, over 100 firefighters were on the scene.

Ride-On buses were requested to shelter the evacuated residents from the cold weather and representatives from the Red Cross and building management were assisting the displaced residents.  

Firefighters will be out in force later today in the community where this fire occurred handing out safety information and offering to check smoke alarms and replacing any batteries or smoke alarms as needed. Fire investigators are currently on the scene to determine the origin and cause of the fire and updates and additional information will be provided when available. 

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Firefighters Going Door-to-Door in White Oak Neighborhood This Morning

This morning, Thursday, September 15, 2011, between 10 AM – 12 PM local fire-rescue crews from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be going door-to-door in the neighborhood, 11400 block of December Way, where a large fire occurred very early this morning. Uniformed firefighters will be handing out fire and injury prevention information, offering to check smoke alarms and replacing batteries or smoke alarms if needed.

Having a functional smoke alarm is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries from fire. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Fire Chief Richard Bowers notes, “The simplest thing a family can do to protect themselves from fire is to have working smoke alarms, on every level of their home, and to have a fire escape plan.”

Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From August 8 - 14

Battalion 1 Incidents

• House Fire in the 15200 block of Watergate Rd - Units arrived to find a large deck attached to the house with a fire at far end from "fire pit." There was no extension to house. House remains occupied. Damage estimate of $15K.

• Motor Vehicle Crash @ Columbia Pike/Rt 29 – Units arrived to find 4 patients injured. All transported to local area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

• House Fire in the 3100 block of Bryan Road. Units arrived to find smoke coming from the roof. E724 found a small fire smoldering in the attic. The fire was contained to the area of origin. The cause was a heat lamp in a bathroom that was left on for an extended period of time. No civilian or FD injuries. Damage of $5K to the structure and $5K to contents.

• Injured person to the rear Rosemary Hills Elem - Units found an adult female who jumped or fell from the overpass (12 foot fall). Units had ECC contact CSX and shut down rail traffic in both directions. Person transported to local hospital with a broken leg.

• Auto fire in the 15700 block of Holly Grove Road. E724 on the scene to find a single vehicle into a tree fully involved in fire. Upon further investigation 2 fatalities were found inside the vehicle. MCPD Zebra team and FEI notified.

Battalion 2 Incidents

• Apartment Fire in the 8100 block of Connecticut Ave. – Units arrived to find a fire that had been put out by fire sprinkler system. One civilian transported for smoke inhalation.

• Hazardous Materials Incident @6100 Connecticut Ave - Hazmat call for chemical spill in pump room for outdoor pool. Had unknown quantity of chlorine solution that leaked due to worn out hose. Hazmat evaluated/diluted. One pool employee BLS patient evaluated/no transport.

Battalion 3 Incidents

• Townhouse fire in the 18900 block of Ebbtide Cir- End of row townhouse struck by lightning that started a fire on the exterior 2nd floor at eave of the townhouse with minor extension into the attic. $25K damage to structure and $1K to contents. No injuries.

Battalion 4 Incidents

• House Fire in the 3600 block of Pimlico Pl – Units arrived on scene with fire showing from attached garage. All occupants out. Fire quickly extinguished. Possible cause: LP BBQ near house, possible malfunction. 1 person sustained burns to hands and transported to area hospital. $50K damage to structure and $30K to contents. 1 family displaced.

• Apartment Fire in the 2300 block of Glenallan Ave. - - Co 18 on the scene w/ heavy smoke and working kitchen fire. A second alarm was sounded. Quick extinguishment and fire contained to the kitchen & vent system. Cause: unattended cooking: Transported one fire fighter and one civilian with minor injuries to local hospital.

• House Fire in the 12800 block of Valleywood Drive.. Units arrived to find fire through the roof of a single story vacant house. Two fire fighters with minor injuries. Cause most probably lightning strike. $300K damage to structure and $50K to contents.

Battalion 5 Incidents

• House Fire in the 25500 block of Woodfield Rd – Units arrived and found smoke coming from the house and found a fire on the first floor. Fire quickly extinguished. Cause is under investigation.

• Hazardous Materials Incident @ Burdette Forest & Snowden Farm Pkwy – Units arrived to find a 4" gas line struck. No damage or injuries.

• Apartment Fire in the 18900 block of Smoothstone Way - Units on scene with smoke showing in the front of a 3 story garden apartment. Units found a dryer fire with extension into apartment. 1 family displaced and damages estimated at $10K.

• House Fire in the 23100 block of Newcut Road - Units on scene with nothing evident. Found a small fire that was extinguished by fire sprinkler. Damage estimate of only $3K.

• Water Rescues in various locations including 500 Block of N. Frederick Ave, Quince Orchard Rd & QO Blvd, and SB I-270 @ Muddy Branch Road. Several vehicle occupants removed from harm. No transports. Please do not drive through flooded streets!!!

Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From July 18 through July 24

Battalion 1 Incidents

• Motor Vehicle Crash Colesville Road @ Silgo Creek PKWY – Fire units found 2 vehicles w/ 3 trauma patients (1 trapped & 1 pinned). 1 MCPD officer 2 civilian patients transported to local hospitals.

• House Fire in the 3 block of Hickory Ave – Fire units arrived to find smoke showing from the roof. Fire started on the rear below the deck and spread to the attic then entered the structure. $400K damage to structure and $200K to contents

Battalion 2 Incidents

• River Rescue at Purple Horse Beach. Units retrieved a 16 year old female w/ a minor ankle injury. Patient, and mother, refused further treatment.

Battalion 3 Incidents

• House Fire in the 13000 block of Mustang Hill La - Fire started on exterior of rear of home possibly due to improperly discarded smoking materials that ignited decking & siding. Fire extended into attic was through the roof on arrival of fire units. Exterior & interior coordinated attack extinguished fire. $200K damage to structure and $100K to contents.

• Building Fire in the 11100 block of Rockville Pike – Fire units arrived and found fire on the 1st floor. A 2nd Alarm was called for. Three business involved and impacted. 1 Fire Fighter transported to local hospital for heat issues.

Battalion 4 Incidents

• House Fire in the 4000 block of Glenridge St- Fire units arrived and found a fire in the basement. Fire fighters were able to contain fire to one room. No injuries with loss of $10K in structure and $5K for the contents.

• House Fire in the 12100 block of Veirs Mill Rd. – Fire units arrived on scene with smoke showing. Fire fighters found fire out and reported it to be food left on the stove with no extension but heavy smoke.

• Apartment Fire in the 5500 block of Burnside Dr. – Fire units arrived on scene and found a fire on balcony of one apartment. The fire was contained to the balcony. Damage estimated at $300 to structure and $500 to contents. Cause determined to be discarded smoking material.

Battalion 5 Incidents

• Hazardous Materials Incident in the1 block of Observation Court - Hazmat call for unknown chemical ("white powder") found on several vehicles in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Haz Mat crew determined the substance was table salt. Referred to MCPD for vandalism investigation.

• Trauma Injury from a fall in the 6500 block of Olney-Laytonsville Road - Counselor/lifeguard fell from lifeguard stand onto pool deck & into pool. C-spine stabilized by staff in the pool prior to fire units arrival. Patient treated & transported to local hospital as a Priority 2/Category C trauma.

Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From July 4 through July 10

Battalion 1 Incidents

• House Fire in the 500 block of E Indian Spring Drive - Report of smoke coming from the house. Fire Units arrived to find smoke showing on the front side of house and heavy fire from the one side of a single story ranch style home with a basement. Second Alarm requested and dispatched. Fire extinguished with interior attack. Second alarm placed in service without being utilized. 1 FD injury, no civilian injuries, 1 civilian occupant displaced and refused Red Cross. Cause undetermined with $350K loss to structure and $150K loss of contents.

Battalion 2 Incidents

• House Fire in the 4100 block of Edgevale Ct. Fire Units arrived to find smoke showing from one side of the house with a working bedroom fire and all occupants out. Contained and extinguished quickly. Two occupants displaced. $250K loss to structure and $50K to contents.

• Hazardous Materials Incident in the 20 block of W. Irving Street - Hazmat call for Nitric Acid Spill inside a single family home. Fire Units found very small spill which was cleaned up by Haz Mat Unit.

Battalion 3 Incidents

• Drowning at Wisteria & Sky Blue Drive - Units responded to a reported drowning at Gunners Lake. Units AOS to find working code and transported to a local hospital.

• Hazardous Materials Incident in the 12400 block of Parklawn Dr., (NIH Fed facility) for unknown powder spill on first floor. Powder was residue from steam autoclave disinfectant machine due to incomplete combustion. Tested powder, no hazard at all. No loss or injuries.

• Injury in the 16600 block of W Willard Rd @ Poolesville GC - one run over by golf cart. Patient transported Priority 2 with significant injuries to a local hospital.

• Gas Leak in the 5700 block of Stillwell Rd - Significant Inside gas leak. Evacuations of near by homes required until situation mitigated.

• Disabled Boat @ Whites Ferry – Service Call for Tow of disabled boat. Significant water & aerial assets utilized. Were able to tow boat to Rileys Lock

Battalion 4 Incidents

• House Fire in the 14000 block of Punch Street - Fire Units found a propane grill that had been on fire on a deck with a wood frame roof overhead. Fire had been extinguished by garden hose prior to arrival. $1K loss to contents and $4K to the structure.

• House Fire in the 13000 block of Beacon Hallow Lane - Dispatched for a house filling with smoke. Fire Units arrived on scene with nothing showing, and quickly determine cause to be overheated garbage disposal.

Battalion 5 Incidents

• Motor Vehicle Crash in the 13600 block of Parkland Dr - Fire Units found a small SUV that went off road into a 1 story house, trapping occupants of the car. Low-tech rescue from car confirmed 2 occupants 1 with minor injuries and 1 arrested by MCPD. 3 occupants of the house, 1 transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

• Injury in the 6500 block of Olney-Laytonsville Rd – Fire Units found a 7 year old female who fell onto a board w/nails sticking out of it, impaling it into her head. She was flown to local hospital via Trooper 3. Mobile Crisis Team requested for campers/counselors.

8830 Piney Branch Road Two Alarm Fire

Silver Spring, MD July 12, 2009 - At approximately 7:35 PM last night units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and Prince Georges County, responded to 8830 Piney Branch Rd. (Pineway Towers Condominiums) in Silver Spring for a reported building fire with people trapped.

Units arrived on the scene to find a residential hi-rise building with fire and toxic smoke showing from the 12th floor. Battalion Chief Officer 701 arrived to the rear of the building and reported seeing fire from the top floor and requested a second alarm worth of equipment and personnel to the scene. An aggressive interior attack and search and rescue operations were initiated. First arriving fire fighters rescued at least a dozen occupants from the 12th floor to safer areas on the floors below.

Upon arriving on the scene, the Fire Investigators were able to identify and interview the residents from the fire apartment. Four occupants were home at the time of the fire and they advised that the smoke alarms sounded and when they investigated they found smoke coming from a rear bedroom. The four exited the apartment and called 911.

The investigation revealed that a number of electronic components were plugged into an undersized extension cord in the room of origin. An apparent failure of the electrical cord occurred which was the cause of the fire.

One Firefighter was transported due to dehydration and one civilian was injured from falling debris. Red Cross was on the scene assisting with the numerous people that were displaced from their apartments

LOCATION: 8830 Piney Branch Rd (Pineway Towers Condominiums)
ORIGIN/CAUSE: Bedroom / Accidental
DAMAGE: 600,000
INJURY: Two – 1 F/F, 1 Civilian
DISPLACEMENT: Approx - 80
Smoke alarm and building alarms activated

Photo provided by FEI Junghans

Structure Fire Goes To Two Alarms

On 7/10/09 at approximately 11:47 PM Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units responded for a building fire at 15853 Crabbs Branch Way - which is part of the Franklin Office Park. Units arrived on scene with fire showing from the roof, and a defensive attack was initiated. The fire
was quickly extinguished and no occupants were found during search and rescue operations.

The area of origin is believed to be on the second floor. A partial collapse of the second floor and the roof occurred posting units 15847 - 15857 as unsafe to occupy.

ORIGIN/CAUSE: Under investigation / Undetermined

DAMAGE: $425000

INJURY: None

DISPLACEMENT: Three offices displaced




Photos courtesy of FEI Maxwell