No Injuries After Grosvenor Townhouse Fire
Shortly before 4PM Thursday, career and volunteer firefighters responded to the 5700 block of Brewer House Circle in the Tuckerman Station development.
Firefighters arrived and found a fire in the second floor bedroom of the townhome, with fire extending into the attic.
Fire suppression was complicated by excessive storage and clutter inside. Fortunately, nobody was injured. Damage was estimated to be around $150,000. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours.
Featured Photo Courtesy of Pete Piringer; Below photos by Cordell Pugh
Friday Lightning Sets 2 Neighboring Houses on Fire
Photo Courtesy of Pete Piringer, Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue.
Around 5:30PM Friday, Montgomery County Career and Volunteer firefighters responded to a reported house fire on Rapley Preserve Circle, near the Avenel Swim and Tennis Facility and Avenel Local Park.
Firefighters arrived and found 2 houses that were both on fire. Firefighters requested additional resources and extinguished both fires, bringing around 100 firefighters to the double scene. Investigators believe both fires were sparked by lightning; lightning strike damage was also visible on nearby trees.
The two fires were estimated to have caused a combined ~$800,000 worth of damage. No civilians were injured however one firefighter was transported to the hospital for observation, according to Pete Piringer, Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue.
Crash Sends Sedan Down Embankment into Purple Line Construction Site
Photos Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Around 1AM Saturday, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad volunteers and Montgomery County Career Firefighters responded to the area of the Purple Line Construction along Jones Bridge and Jones Mill Roads for a reported rollover crash.
Responders arrived and found a sedan that had crashed through traffic barricades and chain-link fencing, ultimately falling down an embankment and rolling over. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics evaluated and transported the two extraordinarily lucky occupants who were inside the sedan and only had minor injuries.
Three Weekend Rollovers, Including One in Veirs Mill Road This Morning, Highlight Importance of Seat Belts, Slowing Down
Friday Evening I-270 Rollover
Photos Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Friday evening shortly after 7PM, Montgomery County Career Firefighters as well as volunteers from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad responded to the ramp from Rockville Pike to Northbound I-270 for a reported crash. Responders arrived and found one vehicle overturned. The Rescue Squad stabilized the overturned vehicle and extricated the trapped occupants, evaluating four patients on scene for EMS transport. All injuries were minor.
Saturday Morning River Road Rollover
Photos Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Shortly before 3AM Saturday, Montgomery County Career Firefighters as well as volunteers from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department responded to the intersection of River Road and Wilson Lane for a reported rollover crash. A single occupant was extricated from the overturned car and transported to a local trauma center with minor injuries.
Sunday Morning Veirs Mill Rollover
Photo Courtesy Battalion Fire Chief Steve Mann
Around 8AM Sunday Morning, Montgomery County Career Firefighters as well as volunteers from the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department responded to another reported rollover crash, this time on Veirs Mill Road at Bradley Avenue near the Twinbrook Shopping Center.
Responders arrived and found a high-speed rear-end collision with one vehicle overturned. Two patients were treated and transported with minor injuries.
According to the Rockville City Police, one of the drivers is being “cited with multiple traffic infractions, including speeding”.
Tow Truck Struck While Clearing Beltway Crash
Photos Courtesy of Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Chief Spokesman Pete Piringer
Shortly before 2PM Thursday, a tow operator was attempting to pick up a disabled car from the right shoulder of the offramp from the Inner Loop of the Beltway (I-495) to Rockville Pike (MD-355). While that disabled car was being loaded, a pickup truck was attempting to pass the scene.
The driver of the pickup truck lost control and crashed into the rear of the rollback tow truck and disabled car. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured, but the driver of the striking pickup had to be extricated by members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad.
Boa Constrictor Sheltered in Place, Cat and 2 Dogs Rescued at Forest Glen Basement Fire
Featured Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Chief Spokesman Pete Piringer
Around 7AM Tuesday morning, a house fire was reported in the 2800 block of Woodstock Avenue. Responders included Montgomery County Firefighters, firefighters from the U.S. Army’s Forest Glen Annex, and volunteer firefighters from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, Kensington Volunteer Fire Department, and Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Responders arrived and located a basement fire that had spread upwards into the first floor of the home. Firefighters were met by 3 humans safe outside, however the firefighters quickly learned a Boa Constrictor, cat, and two dogs were still inside. The two dogs were quickly rescued, the Boa Constrictor was sheltered in place inside, and the initially missing cat was found safe inside after the fire.
Investigators determined this fire was caused by a space heater placed too close to combustible materials, in this case a dog bed. Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Chief Spokesman Pete Piringer also noted that the home dangerously did not have any working smoke detectors.
Latest Beltway Project Increases Roadway Friction, Should Decrease Crashes
Featured Photo Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Next week, Maryland State Highway Administration Contractors will begin installing the latest safety improvement designed to improve safety and reduce crashes on an especially problematic section of the Beltway.
On the Outer Loop of the Beltway between Connecticut Avenue and the Big Curve over the I-270 Spur, crews will apply a high friction surface treatment to the roadway. This treatment will increase friction, allowing vehicles to stop in shorter distances and reduce skidding and hydroplaning.
In a written statement, Maryland State Highway Administrator Tim Smith said, “This project will improve the roadway surface as one strategy to reduce crashes on the Capital Beltway. This engineering solution will make the roadway safer, especially when coupled with motorists being cautious and obeying posted speed limits.”
Contractors will close lanes on the Outer Loop between 7PM and 5AM beginning Monday, February 8. Crews will work every night of the week; completion is expected by Mid-February.
Three People Trapped After Clara Barton Parkway Crash Late Last Night
Photos Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Shortly before 10PM Monday, Montgomery County career and volunteer firefighters responded to an overturned vehicle on the Clara Barton Parkway near the MacArthur Blvd/Glen Echo Turnaround.
Responders arrived and found a vehicle that had crashed and came to rest on its side. Three people were stuck inside the vehicle. Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department worked together to stabilize the wrecked vehicle that was resting on its side so its occupants could be safely extricated. Luckily, all three occupants only had minor injuries. United States Park Police handled the crash report, as the Clara Barton Parkway is a federal Parkway.
The crash occurred on the Clara Barton Parkway, which was recently entirely repaved. Safety improvements such as new pavement markings and all new signs were also installed as part of the project.
Driver Ejected, Seriously Injured in I-270 Crash
Featured Photo courtesy of the Bethesda–Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
Around 12:30AM Wednesday, a Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack Trooper was on patrol when he spotted a vehicle that had ran into trees and crashed on the ramp from Southbound I-270 to MD-355. The Trooper then discovered that the driver of the vehicle had been ejected and seriously hurt during the crash.
Firefighters and Paramedics then arrived and began to treat the driver’s injuries and stabilize the crashed vehicle which came to rest on its side. The driver was then transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
A Maryland State Police crash reconstructionist responded from the MSP’s Frederick Barrack to the scene to document the crash scene. The ramp from Southbound I-270 to MD-355 was closed for several hours early Wednesday morning.
As Dr. Anthony Fauci left work at the NIH in Bethesda Wednesday evening, quite the surprise was waiting for him as he stepped outside.
Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, and Paramedics from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and the NIH’s own Fire Department stood outside to surprise him and wish him a happy birthday.
Responders thanked the visibly surprised Doctor for his invaluable work during COVID and all the rest of his time at NIH, and sang happy birthday to him.
The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad later posted a follow-up message on Instagram, repeating their thanks to Dr. Fauci, the NIH, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Institute that Dr. Fauci directs.
