Below you will see notes from a media briefing by Fire Chief Scott Goldstein regarding this morning’s apartment fire in Silver Spring.
• Occupant on 8th floor called to let MCFRS know of smoke coming from the 7th floor this morning. Units arrived to find a fire on the 7th floor. Fire was contained to the 7th floor apartment with smoke on several floors above and below the unit.
• 10 residents were transported and 7 self-transported to the hospital, to make 17 total with several injuries critical. 3 firefighters were injured and transported to hospital and all three have been discharged.
• The building is going through the re-occupancy stage. Residents are being allowed back into their units to get essential items. Operations remain to investigate the fire and determine what started it.
• Displaced residents can go to the Gwendolyn Coffield Recreation Center at 2450 Lyttonsville Rd. It’ll be the shelter location for those who need shuttler overnight. The exact number of units that will be displaced is still being finalized (it will be extensive).
• 450 total apartments between the two towers. 100-200 units may be displaced this evening until property management can get everything stabilized.
• Were there any aerial rescues? No rescues were taken out by aerials.
• Residents on multiple floors could not get out of their unit and they were told to shelter in place outside on their balcony or to close the doors of their unit and stay inside.
• Piringer: Occupants may have tried to fight the fire for a duration of time, thus delaying the alarm.
• Significant fire and smoke conditions upon arrival after 911 call from 8th floor.