Crime & Safety
One Dead, 3 Injured in Gaithersburg Condo Fire
One resident was killed and three people were hurt Sunday in a Gaithersburg condo fire, authorities say.
GAITHERSBURG, MD — Montgomery County firefighters will return to a Gaithersburg neighborhood Monday night to check on smoke alarms, a day after a condo fire killed one resident and injured three others. The fatal blaze happened Sunday at 996 West Side Drive in the Brighton West condominiums community off Muddy Branch Road.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Pete Piringer said one person was found dead in the fire and three people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. He said the fire occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters arrived to flames showing from the building and reports of people trapped inside.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire and searched the buildings, he said. More than 75 firefighters responded to the fire.
Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Piringer estimated damage at $170,000. The Red Cross is helping 12 people who are displaced from their homes because of the fire.
ICYMI (8p 4/2) FATAL FIRE, 996 West Side Dr, Condo; 3 civ NLT inj, 1 fatal; >12 displaced, 75 FFs OS; Cause, likely accidental; Damage $170K pic.twitter.com/CgFaN9wHuJ
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 3, 2017
Authorities believe the fire's cause was accidental.
Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
ICYMI ~810p West Side Dr, Gburg, report of person trapped, FFs arrived w/ heavy fire (2nd floor), 1 person died, several residents NLT inj pic.twitter.com/dXv8cwU52C
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 3, 2017
»Photos courtesy of Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services
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