Cigarette Caused Gaithersburg Fire That Displaced Dozens: MCFRS

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A two-alarm fire that ripped through a Gaithersburg apartment building and displaced dozens of residents on Friday was caused by a cigarette, fire officials said.

"Fire investigators determined that the fire cause was an improperly discarded smoking material — a cigarette in this case — on a balcony," Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, said.

About 100 firefighters responded to 200 Sunny Brook Terrace around 1:30 p.m. Friday after a passerby reported the blaze, Piringer said. Several people had to be rescued from the three-story apartment building.

While there were no serious injuries, some residents were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, officials said.

Update - 2-Alarm, Sunny Brook Terr, EMS evaluating occupants/residents, several will be transported w/ smoke inhalation & minor injuries, all NLT, several families will be displaced, no FF injuries pic.twitter.com/7Ws2HGdZd0
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) March 8, 2019

According to Piringer, dozens were displaced from their homes as a result of the fire.