Gaithersburg

75 Firefighters Battle Basement Fire Amid Extreme Heat

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire around 4:15 p.m. Thursday at 10 Brooks Avenue in Gaithersburg.

According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire, which began in the basement and may have involved a lithium-ion battery explosion, was quickly contained with no reported injuries; approximately 75 firefighters operated on scene in extreme heat.

In a subsequent update released Thursday night, MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer provided further details about the incident. Investigators determined that the fire originated in the basement, linked to a power strip supplying electricity to a LiPO battery charger and associated batteries. The damage incurred by the fire is estimated at around $200,000. Although the monitored fire alarm alerted the resident in time, one person was displaced by the incident.