Approximately 75 Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) firefighters responded to a fire at a single-family home in the 1400 block of Gerard St. in Rockville on Friday, October 18.
Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS, Pete Piringer, reported that the fire originated in the attached garage, where possible ignition sources included a lawn mower, car battery, garage door opener, and a light. The fire spread to the first and second floors and a portion of the attic.
Occupants of the home reported smelling smoke and called 911 after discovering the fire coming from the garage. Fire investigators noted that the interior wood door between the garage and the house was against fire code. The fire caused an estimated $550,000 in damage, with $450,000 attributed to the structure and $100,000 to contents. One family, including two adults and one child, has been displaced, and no injuries have been reported.