Firefighters Fall Through Floor While Battling Germantown Blaze

GERMANTOWN, MD — Three firefighters fell through the floor while entering a house fire in Germantown Thursday morning.

Montgomery County fire officials said they were quickly extricated and did not suffer any serious injuries.

The homeowner, who was returning to his residence, first discovered the fire around 4:30 a.m., Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein told WJLA. When firefighters arrived at 21331 Emerald Drive, they saw smoke and flames coming from multiple levels of the single-family home.

Update - Emerald Dr, Germantown, SFH, fire out, floor burned thru, significant damage, homeowner came home discovered fire, called 911, FFs arrived w/ fire on several levels, no serious injury pic.twitter.com/SNXAJwajAF
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 31, 2019

Upon entering the residence, two firefighters fell through the floor, Goldstein said. He added that a mayday call was issued and fire personnel were able to quickly rescue the firefighters. Later on, a third firefighter fell into that same hole.

No one who fell through the floor suffered serious injuries, said Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.

A space heater, that was being used on the first floor, was likely the cause of Thursday morning's house fire, according to Piringer. He estimated the fire damage at $750,000.

Update - Emerald Dr, Germantown, significant damage, building structurally unsound & unsafe to occupy; Space heater operating in area of origin on 1st floor; Cause, likely electrical in nature; Damage, $750K, incl $500K structure, $250K contents; 1 person displaced; it’s cold pic.twitter.com/FHaWnJJMIf
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 31, 2019

Image via Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services