Gaithersburg Townhouse Fire Leaves One Dead

Around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, MCFRS units were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 1800 block of Windjammer Way in Gaithersburg. Firefighters arrived on scene and found heavy fire conditions in a two-story, middle of the row townhouse.

Two occupants of the home were alerted to the fire by a working smoke alarm, exited the home and called 911. Firefighters were made aware that there was one other occupant of the home, who resided in the basement, who was unaccounted for.

Firefighters engaged in firefighting operations as well as escorting neighbors out of their homes next door. A second alarm was called for bringing additional firefighters and equipment to the scene. Ultimately, the bulk of the fire was knocked down, brought under control, and mostly contained to the townhouse of origin.

Shortly after midnight, the body of an adult male was found among the debris in the basement.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and MCFRS Fire Investigators are working with Montgomery County Police Homicide detectives – which is standard procedure with a fire death. Due to the extensive damage, and partial collapse of the first floor, investigators are currently awaiting the arrival of engineers to stabilize the structure for fire investigation operations.

Red Cross is on scene and assisting the occupants and neighbors who have been displaced as a result of the fire.

Damage estimates are pending. Over 100 firefighters were on scene and there were no reported injuries to fire department personnel or residents.

Chief Lohr Presents Citations for Bravery

On Friday, August 8 Fire Chief Steve Lohr presented several citations for bravery.  The recognition was related to a tragic two-alarm fire that occurred on January 8, 2014: Young Child Dies in Two-Alarm Fire 

News Advisory: Early Morning Fatal Fire in Kensington

70-year-old man transported to area hospital succumbs to injuries

Montgomery County, MD - - Units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue were dispatched about 4:30 a.m. this morning to the 3900 block of Decatur Avenue in Kensington for the report of a kitchen fire. Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and located a man severely burned in the kitchen area of the home. Medics provided advanced life support and the victim was transported to an area hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries where he later died. The victim has been identified as Thomas Dolan Geoghegan, 70 years old, of Kensington, Maryland.

Fire investigators have ruled the fire accidental and the State Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death. The home’s smoke alarm alerted other occupants of the home to the fire. Units from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be out in the community distributing information on fire safety and offering to check smoke alarms. Damage estimates to the home were $300.00.

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