Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire on Rocking Horse Road in Rockville Tuesday evening.
According to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer, upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire and black smoke at the rear of the one-story residence. The blaze originated on the rear deck and extended into the home.
The response included multiple units, such as engines, ladders, rescue squads, EMS, and support teams, with additional apparatus—PE719, PE725, PT725, A742B, CT733, and MAU733—assisting at the scene. Firefighters operated under challenging conditions with a temperature of 92°F and humidity at 65%.
During suppression efforts, crews encountered multiple hazards including rooftop and yard-mounted solar panels, lithium-ion battery storage, loose wiring, and hoarding conditions inside the residence. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature, caused by a portable generator being used to charge a cache of lithium-ion batteries. The damage is estimated at over $100,000. One family, including two adults and three children, has been displaced as a result of the incident.
Update – Rocking Horse Rd, FFs encountered various hazards, including solar panels (roof & yard), batteries, loose wiring & hoarding conditions; Origin/Cause, accidental, portable generator (charging cache lithium ion batteries); Damage >$100K; 1 family (2 adults/3kids) displaced https://t.co/yq69HRGQWw pic.twitter.com/eWlBJGlX8C
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 25, 2025