Family Displaced, Several Cats Rescued After Apartment Fire

SILVER SPRING, MD — An apartment fire in Aspen Hill left a family displaced as firefighters rescued several cats.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer said the incident happened Monday on the third floor of an apartment building located at the 3200 block of Hewitt Avenue.

Two adults, one child and several cats were displaced, according to Piringer, who noted that the cats were rescued from the home.

Officials determined that the fire, which amounted to about $15,000 in damages, was caused by an electrical malfunction traced back to a portable heater/fan. The device ignited combustibles that were nearby.

Piringer noted that the home did not have any sprinklers and that the smoke alarms had been disconnected.