Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a townhouse fire on the 10700 block of Lester Street in Wheaton at approximately 2:30am on Sunday morning.
According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire caused significant damage, including a floor collapse, but all occupants safely evacuated with no reported injuries. The fire was confined to the townhouse of origin, though power outages affecting 10 townhomes in the row have displaced several families due to freezing temperatures.
Approximately 60 firefighters responded to the scene, and the fire was extinguished after significant efforts, with Ride On buses provided for temporary shelter. Power is expected to be restored within 5-6 hours.
Update -Initial Dispatch ~250a, middle-of-row TH, heavy fire upon arrival, the floor collapsed, occupants got out, electric power likely will be off to ~10 THs, some occupants may elect to shelter-in-place with no heat or lights while others will be displaced, temps ~30° & icy pic.twitter.com/q44FtoQs0u
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 26, 2025