Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded around 7 p.m. Friday evening to a reported apartment fire in the 20000 block of Frederick Road, near Appledowre Way, at the Avana Oak Mill Apartments in Germantown.
According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, firefighters arrived to find smoke in the hallway of the four-story, unsprinklered residential building. The initial call came in for a smoke alarm activation and visible smoke in the corridor. Upon investigation, crews discovered a kitchen fire inside an unoccupied fourth-floor unit.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, containing it to the apartment of origin. However, officials reported potential water damage to units below as a result of suppression efforts. Animal Services responded to assist with pets at the scene. Three cats were removed from the apartment but, tragically, did not survive.
Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental, resulting from a stovetop malfunction that overheated and ignited nearby combustibles. Damages are estimated to exceed $156,000. No residents or firefighters were injured.
