Fire Crews Rescue 17 People from Burning Building

[Howard Hartman]

	Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service An Internationally Accredited Public Safety Agency NEWS RELEASE     Richard Bowers, Fire Chief     Assistant Chief Scott Graham, Public Information Officer     Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, 12th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, 20850     Phone: 240.777.2474 – Media Hotline – 240.777.2442
July 13, 2012

Fire Crews Rescue 17 People from Burning Building

More than 74 residents displaced following 3-Alarm Fire in Burtonsville

Rockville - - - Shortly after 7:00 this morning, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units responded to the report of a fire at the Ashford at Woodlake Apartments located at 14005 Castle Boulevard in Burtonsville. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions to the rear of the structure and a report of residents trapped. First arriving firefighers, along with officers from the Montgomery County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, assisted in the dramatic rescues of seventeen trapped occupants in the initial stages of the fire.

Firefighters quickly made an interior attack and conducted a primary search of the garden-style apartment complex. A second alarm was dispatched as firefighters continued to fight the growing fire. A precautionary third alarm was ultimately dispatched to the scene before the blaze was under control. Over 100 firefighters responded to the scene including personnel from neighboring Howard and Prince George’s County.

Fire Department personnel evaluated a number of residents on the scene. No residents required transport and there were no reported firefighter injuries. The American Red Cross is currently working with apartment management representatives from the Donaldson Group to assist displaced residents. Montgomery County Fire and Explosive investigators are on the scene conducting an origin and cause investigation. Investigators will be ruling the fire as accidental in nature and believe to have been sparked by an electrical malfunction in a first floor unit. Damage estimates are $1.5 million.

14005 Castle Boulevard in Burtonsville