Occupants Safely Escape & Credit Fire Sprinkler System
On December 5,
2018 tragedy was averted because of working smoke alarms and a
residential sprinkler in an independent senior living facility in the Fairland/Calverton
area. Around 6:45 p.m., units from the Montgomery County
Fire and Rescue Service responded to 12801 Old Columbia Pike, Arbor Crest, a
two-story, senior independent living facility, for an 'automatic' medical
alarm for an unknown emergency. Paramedic Engine 724 responded to the
scene and encountered moderate smoke on the second floor, at which additional
fire and rescue units were dispatched. upon further investigation, moments
later Firefighters located a small fire in a bedroom. The fire which involved a
mattress and some other nearby combustibles was controlled by a residential
sprinkler system. The fire was mostly out. In the meantime, some of the
building had been evacuated and other portions were shelter and protect in
place. Firefighters located and rescued/relocated a feline (cat) from the
apartment of origin.
Fire and
Explosive Investigators believe one of the residents of the apartment of origin
had been consumed alcohol and was smoking cigarettes in the bedroom and at some
point fell asleep. Another resident was in another room and heard the
smoke alarm activate. Upon investigation and in an effort to check on his wife,
he discovered a fire on the mattress by the pillows with his wife still on the
bed. He was able to rouse her and then attempted to extinguish the fire, to no
avail. After numerous attempts of trying to put out the fire, both
occupants evacuated the apartment. In the commotion of those efforts a
medical alarm was somehow activated, automatically alerting 911 for an unknown
medical emergency. An ambulance and Paramedic Engine were dispatched. The
residential sprinkler activated after the occupants had left the area &
prior to arrival of emergency personnel. The sprinkler essentially controlled
and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries associated with the
fire. Damage was estimated to $30,000.
It should be
noted, none of the occupants called 911 to report the fire.
The Community Outreach Senior Program Manager and crews from the area fire/rescue crews
(First Battalion) are scheduled to revisit the facility to meet with residents,
review best practices and talk about fire safety and reminding residents of the importance of calling 911 in an emergency. 
