A large overnight house fire in the Spencerville area caused an estimated $1 million in damage early Sunday morning, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer reported that crews were dispatched at approximately 12:40 a.m. Sunday, January 11, to the 15800 block of Phillips Oaks Drive, off Spencerville Road, for an automatic fire alarm. Fire units arrived to find heavy fire conditions in a large single-family home.
By 1:06 a.m., officials confirmed the fire had spread throughout the structure, leading to a partial collapse. Firefighters transitioned to defensive operations, including the use of an aerial tower ladder pipe. More than 50 firefighters were on scene battling the blaze.
Multiple engines, trucks, medic units, and command staff responded to the incident as crews worked to contain the fire and prevent further spread.
In a later update at 6:28 a.m., MCFRS said the fire originated outside the home, under a rear deck, in a chicken coop. A heat lamp is believed to be the likely ignition source. The estimated damage is $1 million.
The lone occupant of the home reportedly heard a noise, observed fire involving the deck, safely exited the house, went to a neighbor’s home, and called 911. No injuries were reported. The fire remains under investigation.
