Donations to help the residents impacted by the fire and explosion at Friendly Garden Apartments in Silver Spring can made at www.mhpartners.org/
According to Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Pete Piringer, as of Saturday roughly half of the original 200 residents displaced were able to re-occupy. Several of the surrounding buildings that had lost water, gas, and electric services now have them restored.
Residents that live in buildings that are still ‘unsafe to occupy’ were able to retrieve medications and other personal belongings with assistance from MCFRS.
On Saturday, debris on exterior of the building continued to be removed and examined. There were no additional canine alerts regarding human remains.
During a press conference on Friday it was announced that investigators had found a cut gas line in the basement of the building. It is believed that a maintenance worker that was addressing a plumbing problem in the building cut the wrong pipe. Authorities are still looking to determine the exact cause.
