MCFRS PIO update from April 13, 2009

MCFRS PIO update(s)from Monday, April 13, 2009


just before 6:00pm - 11007 Candlelight Lane, Potomac, car into residential structure (house). Some damage to garage door and wall near laundry room - car accidentally driven onto house. No injury, no fire.

Just before 5pm - 19650 Gunner’s Branch Road, Germantown - smoke from building
Commercial Retail Establishment: Taco Bell / Kentucky Fried Chicken

Damage: $200,000 Structure, $50,000 Other,
(plus Approximately $35,000 per week business interruption).

Cause: Accidental, improperly discarded smoking materials.

An off duty firefighter arrived on the scene to find a small fire extending up the exterior wall and a moderate amount of black smoke from the roof eves on all four sides.


The store Manager stated the occupants of the restaurant started to smell smoke, thinking it may have been a new piece of equipment the manager went to turn off the new broiler unit. As he returned to the front he noticed black smoke pushing from the air conditioner vents. The manager evacuated the store, turned of the electricity and calls 9-1-1.


First arriving firefighters found a large amount of fire in the roof. The structure was built from lightweight engineered wood trusses in a flat roof configuration. The exterior was faux stucco over ½ inch polystyrene foam board and ½ inch plywood sheath. Structural load components were brick and block on a concrete slab. The fire had run up a small exterior chase to a fire stop, but was able to extend to the interior roof and concealed attic area.

Witnesses indicated the fire may have started on the outside very low to the ground. This area had been mulched over but the mulch had been burned back. Fire Investigators located several cigarette butts in the immediate area. This area was a popular area for patrons and employees alike to smoke. Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and started in the exterior mulch bed by a carelessly discarded cigarette.



around 1:30pm - 8000 Aberdeen Rd, Bethesda - shed fire with extension

First arriving fire and rescue units found heavy fire to the rear of the large single family, rambler style house. Upon arrival crews reported hearing sounds of explosions, one of which turned out to be a propane cylinder BLEVE. Both elderly occupants had already escaped the nearby structure. A large (15 x 24) shed and a smaller shed (6 x 10)were found fully involved, as well as a wooden fence and some trees and bushes. The heat and fire was extending to the house. Fire crews quickly knocked down the fire.



Fire Investigators believe one of the occupants of the house had dumped fireplace ashes between the shed and the backyard fence last evening. The occupant recalled seeing many dried leaves in this area, but remembered thinking that it was a good thing that the outside temperature was as cold as it was. The couple was awakened from an afternoon nap by an alert Verizon technician who was working in the area. A neighbor called 911.

The fire is classified as accidental, caused by improperly discarded fireplace ashes. Damages are estimated at $100,000 to structure and $10,000 to the contents.


around 1:00pm - exit ramp from the outerloop of the Beltway to SB Colesville Road, Silver Spring - crash (overturned tractor trailer) 1 injury, ramp closed for a while, MSP investigating



10:45am - New Hampshire Avenue and Gaithers Meadows Lane, Sunshine area - single vehicle crash. 3 injuries, including two males and one female (all in 20's). Female pinned for about 10 minutes. Ford Explorer over turned, hit tree. 2 traumas(serious) and one priority 3 (non-life-threatening). MSP medevac helicopter on scene transported to Shock Trauma. Other two taken to nearby hospitals.