Incense Ashes Cause $2M In Damages After Apartment Fire: MCFRS

ROCKVILLE, MD — A fire that caused $2 million in damages at a Rockville apartment complex was caused by incense ashes.

Pete Piringer, of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, said the ashes were improperly discarded inside a potted plant.

The blaze broke out around 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the Miramont Apartment complex on the 6000 block of California Circle, just off E. Jefferson Street.

A dozen residents from several apartment units were displaced and at least one maintenance worker was treated for smoke inhalation. Piringer said the individual had been alerting residents of the blaze.

More than 75 firefighters responded to the call at the four-story apartment building.

Officials said the fire started in an unoccupied second-floor unit before spreading onto the third floor of the building.

The building was not equipped with a sprinkler system.