1 Dead, 1 In Critical Condition After Fire Rips Through Rockville Home

ROCKVILLE, MD — A man is dead and a woman remains in critical condition Tuesday morning after a fire ripped through a Rockville home late Monday night, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue.

County fire and rescue units responded around 11:15 p.m., on Monday for the report of a house fire on Oriental Street just off of Aspen Hill Road in Rockville, according to Pete Piringer, MCFRS public information officer.

Arriving on the scene, firefighters observed heavy fire in the lower level and extending into the second floor of a split-level home, according to Piringer. The bedroom area was engulfed in flames.

"One occupant was outside," Piringer said. "Firefighters quickly found two occupants in the house. They were bought out. They were both in grave condition."

Firefighters found the two residents unconscious and in an upstairs bedroom. Piringer described them as an older man and woman, possibly a father and daughter. They were suffering from smoke inhalation and were taken to area trauma and burn centers for treatment.

With the incident designated a "priority one fire," more units and personnel were brought to the scene to assist, according to Piringer.

On Tuesday morning, the man taken from the burning home was declared dead at the hospital and the woman remained in critical condition, according to MCFRS. The fire displaced a family of five adults and two children.

Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was electrical in nature and had started in an electrical panel in the basement. The fire caused an estimated to $225,000 in damage.

Update - Oriental St; 2 unconscious adults rescued & transported, 1 male pronounced dead at hospital, 1 female remains in critical condition; Origin/basement IAO electrical panel, Cause/electrical in nature; Damage >$225K; 1 family, 5 adults/2 children displaced @MontgomeryCoMD https://t.co/6buFbY8epn pic.twitter.com/B9U7sb52ix
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 31, 2023