Electrical Problem Likely Started $1M Leisure World Fire: Official

An electrical problem likely sparked a fire at Leisure World that left 11 residents homeless and caused an estimated $1 million in damage, according to the Montgomery County Fire Department.

Tuesday afternoon’s fire began in an elderly resident’s apartment at 3620 Gleneagles Drive in Silver Spring.

Firefighters will visit the Leisure World community at 1 p.m. Wednesday to conduct “After the Fire” outreach activities that include speaking with residents, as well as checking their smoke alarms.

Before firefighters arrived, nearby workers smelled the smoke and, after calling 911, helped a 90-year-old resident out of his apartment, which is where the fire started, according to the department’s blog. Residents alerted neighbors of the fire on the first floor, which ensured that all residents were safely out of the building before firefighters were on the scene.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire and evacuated several residents from adjoining buildings. A dog found inside the unit was unconscious when rescued by firefighters, who then revived it. The blog says a cat in the apartment where the fire began died from its injuries.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries. There were no injuries to residents. Authorities estimate 11 residents were displaced from ten apartments. Damage was estimated at $700,000 to the structure and $300,000 to the contents of the building.

»Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services