Silver Spring Apartment Fire

At approximately 10 pm on Saturday, February 27, MCFRS Units were initially dispatched for a 'automatic alarm', at 1705 East West Highway, however the call was upgraded as additional calls were received reporting smoke and as first units arrived with smoke showing at Summit Hills Apartments in Silver Spring.

Units arriving on scene reported smoke showing from a seventh floor apartment. Firefighters made their way to the seventh floor, where they encountered heavy smoke conditions. Once they gained entry into the apartment, and found heavy fire involvement throughout the apartment. The fire was quickly knocked down and extinguished, but not after causing significant damage. The fire was contained to the apartment of origin in this seven-story building.  Fire Investigators indicate the fire severely damaged contents of the apartment and the furniture in the area of the origin was nearly completely consumed.

Currently, the fire is listed as undetermined and under investigation.

Approximately 11 apartments were damaged by smoke, heat or water. Four people were assisted by Red Cross. There were no injuries to Fire/Rescue personnel or civilians. More than 65 fire fighters were on the scene, including several from PGFD.

Damages were estimated to be:

$300,000.00 to the structure

$75,000.00 to the contents

Photos below.

2015 #1 Top Large Loss Fire

The #1 Top Large Loss Fire of 2015 occurred on 2/1/15, 5114 Dudley La, Bethesda, approximately $1M damage.  Below are the details as posted on the blog:

On Sunday (2/1/2015), at approximately 3:10 a.m., MCFRS units responded for a reported building fire at 5114 Dudley Lane in Bethesda. A guest at the nearby Pooks Hill Marriott (across street) called 911 to report the fire as it was first visible on the outside of the building.

Units arrived on the scene to find fire coming from the dryer vent exhaust on one side of the four story building.  The visible fire was quickly extinguished.  While checking for extension of the fire, crews found considerable fire in the void spaces -- duct work in walls, ceiling & floors and concealed areas -- on the 2^nd and 3rd floors in between several apartments.  The initial alarm assignment eventually reached two alarms plus a task force which brought approximately 150 firefighters to the scene.

Smoke alarms did sound and residents safely self-evacuated with no resident injuries reported.  As well sprinklers activated and protected several living spaces in the building.

Fire Investigators conducted an origin and cause investigation and concluded the fire was accidental with the probable cause being a blocked dryer vent overheating which caused combustibles to ignite.

The Red Cross also was on scene and assisted several families.  Fire Inspectors posted three occupied apartments, 1 model unit and the leasing office as unsafe.  Two firefighters sustained minor injuries.  Damage estimates were $600K to the structure and $400K to contents.  

Dogs Rescued at Apartment Fire

By: Captain Pat Stakem
      Fire Station 19, C-Shift

These two guys in the photos below are some happy pups. We rescued them from an apartment fire late Friday night.

Our units arrived to find a small kitchen fire being held in check by automatic fire sprinklers though there was a good amount of smoke. Firefighter/Paramedic Katie Dennison from PE701 found one of the dogs in the bathroom hiding and Firefighter Damon Grattan and I found the other in the bedroom on the floor not really moving.  After a little fresh air they were back to the happy go lucky pups I'm sure they normally are.

Both have been reunited with their human. Sometimes we're in the right place at the right time and things work out. Great work by all fire and rescue companies that responded.

Leisure World Apartment Fire

On September 15, 2015 at approximately 3:15 pm, MCFRS units were dispatched for a reported apartment fire in the 3600 block of Gleneagles Dr. within the Leisure World community.  Truck 725 arrived on the scene and reported fire showing from the 1st floor along with heavy smoke conditions.  Additional units were requested immediately.

Prior to fire department arrival a few nearby workers upstairs felt the heat, smelled the smoke and, after calling 911, assisted a 90 year old occupant safely from the apartment where the fire started.  Additionally, residents alerted neighbors of the fire on the first floor ensuring everybody got out unscathed prior to the arrival of MCFRS units. 

Firefighters worked quickly in containing and extinguishing the bulk of the fire while at the same time evacuating several residents from the adjoining buildings.  In addition, one dog was located inside the structure unconscious, rescued, and subsequently revived.  A cat in the fire apartment was located but had succumbed to its injuries.

During operations two (2) firefighters sustained, and were treated for, minor injuries.  There were no injuries to residents.  Approximately seventy-five (75) firefighters responded to the fire.

Approximately eleven (11) residents were displaced from ten (10) apartments. Damage was estimated at $700k to the structure and $300k to the contents. The fire is believed to be accidental and likely electrical in nature.

Firefighters will be returning to the Leisure World community today at 1 pm to conduct “After the Fire” outreach activities that include speaking with residents as well as checking their smoke alarms.

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

Apartment Fire 5114 Dudley Lane

On Sunday (2/1/2015), at approximately 3:10 a.m., MCFRS units responded for a reported building fire at 5114 Dudley Lane in Bethesda. A guest at the nearby Pooks Hill Marriott (across street) called 911 to report the fire as it was first visible on the outside of the building.

Units arrived on the scene to find fire coming from the dryer vent exhaust on one side of the four story building.  The visible fire was quickly extinguished.  While checking for extension of the fire, crews found considerable fire in the void spaces -- duct work in walls, ceiling & floors and concealed areas -- on the 2^nd and 3rd floors in between several apartments.  The initial alarm assignment eventually reached two alarms plus a task force which brought approximately 150 firefighters to the scene.

Smoke alarms did sound and residents safely self-evacuated with no resident injuries reported.  As well sprinklers activated and protected several living spaces in the building.

Fire Investigators conducted an origin and cause investigation and concluded the fire was accidental with the probable cause being a blocked dryer vent overheating which caused combustibles to ignite.

The Red Cross also was on scene and assisted several families.  Fire Inspectors posted three occupied apartments, 1 model unit and the leasing office as unsafe.  Two firefighters sustained minor injuries.  Damage estimates were $600K to the structure and $400K to contents.  

Apartment Fire Update and Photos

MCFRS Units were dispatched to a report of fire in the apartment in the 5500 block of Burnside Drive.  Upon arrival units encountered fire on the 2nd floor extending to the 3rd floor.  The fire was brought under control quickly.

Approximately nine people were displaced with both occupants of the fire apartment transported to a local hospital for evaluation of smoke inhalation and released shortly there after.  Total damage estimate of approximately $75K.  The cause has been determined to be accidental due to unattended incense.  The smoke alarms in the apartment worked!

Photo provided by Beverly Jensen, MCFRS

Photo provided by Beverly Jensen, MCFRS

Residential Sprinklers Save Lives and Property

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

       Battalion One, A-Shift

The presence of automatic fire sprinklers in residential occupancies makes a huge impact on life safety and property conservation. While the 1st Battalion has many unsprinklered residential high rise buildings - it also has a number of newer residential structures outfitted with residential sprinklers.

On Monday, July 1^st crews (Co 15, 24, 12, & 16) from the 1st Battalion responded to one of those sprinklered structures for a reported apartment fire. When they arrived on the scene they found a 5-story apartment building that is part of a huge, assisted living complex.  Upon investigation on the third floor, they found a small fire in a study area of one apartment. The fire had been extinguished by ONE residential sprinkler head. No one was home at the time of the fire, so had the apartment not been sprinklered, the fire would have grown quickly in size and would have resulted in a major fire.

The photos below show the limited damage that was done. 

This single, residential sprinkler head (below) flowing just a few gallons a minute did the job of several FD hose lines flowing over 150 gallons per minute each. Why was it so efficient and effective? Because the sprinkler head is a fast-acting head that senses the early development of a fire which allows water to be applied at a much lower rate yet still be effective in controlling or extinguishing the fire. More importantly, it allows the occupants to escape the area before a raging fire can develop. 

When evaluating where to reside - chose the place that provides the better life safety features - choose residential fire sprinklers!

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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Arrest Made in Chevy Chase 3 Alarm Fire

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 2, 2012

Arrest Made in Chevy Chase 3 Alarm Fire

                                                 

Rockville - - After midnight this morning, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Investigators arrested 24 year old Abraham Ogazgi Kiflu of Chevy Chase. Fire Chief Richard Bowers stated that the man went to the 3^rd District Police Station during the night and asked to speak with the Fire Marshal. During that interview, Kiflu voluntarily confessed to starting the fire. Kiflu was charged with 1^st Degree Arson. Additional charges are pending. Kiflu is a relative of the tenant and was living there at the time of the fire. Exact circumstances and details are not immediately available due to the continuing investigation.

The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. on May 1, 2012 at 2815 Terrace Drive in Chevy Chase. Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigators report that the fire damaged or destroyed 34 units of which 2 were not occupied and displaced more than 100 people. The fire caused in excess $1,000,000.00 damage to the structure and contents. Approximately 125 fire and rescue personnel responded and were on the scene for more than 4 hours.

No civilians were injured. Two firefighters suffered injuries. One firefighter was transported to a local trauma center with serious non life threatening injuries related to heat and the other with minor orthopedic to a local hospital. Both firefighters have since been released. 

  

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Apartment Fire 14100 Block of Castle Blvd.

This past Saturday, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units responded for a report of an apartment fire in the 14100 block of Castle Blvd.  Fire Units from Burtonsville Fire Station #15 arrived on the scene and did find a working fire in an apartment.

Click on the photo link from the fire are below to see the others:

Two-Alarm Fire Displaces Fifteen Residents and Sends One to the Hospital

Rockville - - -  A two-alarm fire this morning has displaced fifteen residents from the Foxhall Apartments at 8708 Barron Street in Silver Spring. When firefighters responded just before 7:00 a.m., they found flames on the top floor of the apartment complex and extending through the roof. Over 55 firefighters responded on the initial alarm and brought the fire under control within 15 minutes. Several residents were evaluated on the scene and one resident was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries for further evaluation. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

Three apartments were damaged in the fire and have been declared uninhabitable and unsafe to occupy by officials. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Damage was estimated at $35,000. Montgomery County fire officials remind ALL residents to ensure that smoke alarms are present . . . and working.