A basement fire that required a response that included more than 50 firefighters displaced two adults and three pets Monday night at a single-family home in Gaithersburg, sending one person to a burn center, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.
At 8:23pm, MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer reported a house fire in the basement of a home in the 18600 block of Kingfisher Terrace, off Quail Valley Boulevard. Initial reports indicated that occupants might be trapped, prompting a large response from fire and rescue units.
By 9:27pm, officials confirmed the fire originated in the basement and that the occupants had made it out of the home. Firefighters also worked to locate pets believed to still be inside the residence.
A subsequent update at 9:35pm stated that the fire had been extinguished and more than 50 firefighters were on scene as temperatures hovered around 20 degrees. Two patients were evaluated by emergency medical personnel. One refused transport, while another adult was transported Priority 1 to a burn center. Firefighters also successfully rescued three dogs from the home.
At 9:42pm, MCFRS confirmed that two adults and three pets were displaced as a result of the fire. Officials said the fire was accidental, originating in the basement and likely caused by an unattended heating element placed too close to combustible materials. No further injuries were reported.
