$700K Fire Caused by Lightning Destroys Gaithersburg House

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A lightning strike Wednesday night caused a fire that destroyed a Gaithersburg house, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials say.

The Washingtonian Woods three-story house in the 200 block of Midsummer Drive caught fire about 6 p.m. Wednesday, said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Pete Piringer. Damage from the blaze was estimated at $700,000.

When firefighters arrived at the house they saw heavy flames throughout the roof area. There was one person inside the house when the lightning strike happened. Piringer said the smoke alarms warned the person, who was able to escape the fire without injury.

Piringer said about 65 firefighters responded to the blaze during a rainstorm that included more lightning.

According to Piringer, a neighbor saw the lightning strike, and fire investigators have since confirmed that’s how the blaze ignited, Montgomery Community Media reports.

The family of four was displaced by the fire.

»Gaithersburg fire photos courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services