Huge 5-Alarm Fire Erupts in College Park (Video)

UPDATE 4:02 PM: Prince George's County Fire Chief Ben Barksdale tells reporters that conditions have improved, but because they were only able to get one ladder truck in the backside of the building, "it's still burning pretty good" in that area. Barksdale also said that a firefighter has been taken to the hospital, and they are holding to five alarms. "We're probably going to be out here another four or five hours at least, and through the night on standby," he said.

UPDATE 2:32 PM: Fox 5 reports that more than 200 firefighters are currently battling the blaze, which continues to rage Monday afternoon. Fire officials have asked nearby residents to close their doors and windows and turn off their air conditioning units. Part of the roof has collapsed, and other parts of the building appear to be weakening as well.

UPDATE 1:30 PM: NBC 4 reports the University of Maryland is closing the school due to poor air quality caused by the fire. Flames continue to rage out of control on the building's roof, as well as the fifth and sixth floors. There are not yet any reports of injuries. Roads in the area, including parts of Route 1, have been shut down. Fire units from D.C. and surrounding counties are arriving at PG County fire houses to staff them as they battle the five-alarm fire.

UPDATE 12:30 PM: A new live feed from PGFD spokesman Mark Brady is embedded below.

UPDATE 12:11 PM: Local news is reporting that University of Maryland students on campus are coughing from all the smoke. Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady reports that all senior citizen residents of the nearby Spellman House are being relocated to a community center farther away.

UPDATE 12:03 PM: The fire continues to spread, and has just been declared a 5-alarm blaze.

UPDATE 11:49 AM: The fire has just been declared a 4-alarm blaze.

UPDATE 11:00 AM: Riverdale Fire Department reports that crews are evacuating the building due to a partial roof collapse.

UPDATE 10:54 AM: The fire is continuing to spread, reports Tracee Wilkins of NBC 4. See new video embedded below the live video.

PGFD 5th Alarm Fire in College Park https://t.co/iq4YTvuX8M
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 24, 2017

Original story:

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Firefighters are battling a huge fire on the fifth floor of an apartment building in College Park near the University of Maryland campus Monday morning.

The fire is located at 4700 Berwyn House Road on the fifth floor of a 6-story building that is under construction.

Stay tuned to this breaking story for updates. Video of the scene is embedded below.

College Park - Berwyn House Road - despite master streams and copious amounts of water the fire continues to extend throughout roof assembly pic.twitter.com/YhfR1ftRG8
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 24, 2017

The fire is continuing to spread you can see flames at the top of the building at Berwyn House Rd in #CollegePark #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/8mp8ZZExOc
— Tracee Wilkins (@TraceeWilkins) April 24, 2017

PGFD Master Stream Devices placed into service pic.twitter.com/Fp3wGRmpDG
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 24, 2017

Current conditions on Berwyn House Road. https://t.co/YXYrhNM1sP #PGFD pic.twitter.com/J6mFMai5wQ
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 24, 2017

Image via PGFD