$275K Damage to Colesville House in Fire

Colesville, MD — Authorities say $275,000 damage was done to a Colesville home by a fire Thursday night, but smoke alarms alerted the residents, who escaped without injury.

The fire was reported about 10:20 p.m. in the 1100 block of Rosemere Avenue in the Colesville area. The first Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units found fire showing from the rear basement and first floor of the two-story single-family home.

All four occupants of the home were safely out when fire crews arrived, thanks to a smoke alarm, officials said.

Firefighters say hoarding conditions throughout the home hampered initial efforts to extinguish the fire. A second alarm was called to assist crews and about 85 firefighters were on the scene.

The homeowner said he heard what he thought to be the smoke alarm sounding in the basement. When he opened the basement door he saw a fire inside near the laundry room. When the homeowner tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, he received a minor injury to his hand.

Fire investigators were called to the scene and determined the blaze began in the basement. But, because of the condition, a cause of the fire is undetermined, so far.

There were no injuries to fire and rescue personnel.

Damages were estimated at $200,000 to the house and $75,000 to its contents.

Two adults and two children have been displaced as a result of the fire.

»Photo and video of Colesville house fire courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services