On the morning of Friday, May 16, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a middle-of-the-row townhouse fire on the 11900 block of Roan Ln. in Gaithersburg. The accidental blaze caused extensive damage estimated at approximately $700K with three different families displaced, including the Bett family– mother and her three children. The community is actively supporting the family through a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Additionally, Arlington Fire Department Captain David Zuniga alerted the Song family of this same fire by banging on their door, prompting their quick evacuation. A GoFundMe has been started for the Song Family, and the video of Captain Zuniga alerting them can be seen here. The fundraiser for Captain Zuniga’s family can be found here.
According to a weekend update by MCFRS Chief spokesperson Pete Piringer, the incident originated indoors and likely spread outdoors, and may have involved damaged lithium batteries among a large debris pile and compromised electrical components, although the exact cause remains undetermined.
