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.
Gaithersburg Man Succumbs to December Fire Injuries
Photo Courtesy Max Wohlschlegel
An adult male rescued from a December 2nd house fire has died, according to MCFRS PIO Pete Piringer.
Shortly after 11PM, fire crews responded to the 800 block of Bayridge Drive in the Fernshire Farms development in Gaithersburg for a house fire.
Firefighters rescued the man from the basement shortly before a portion of the first floor collapsed into the basement. He was transported to the hospital with significant burns and succumbed to his injuries on December 31st.
Two other individuals inside the burning home escaped unharmed. The cause of the fire was preliminarily believed to have been an improperly placed space heater which ignited combustible materials nearby.
A bedroom door left open allowed the fire to quickly spread. Closed bedroom doors save lives when fires occur overnight. Closed doors contain smoke and fire, increasing time available to evacuate or be rescued.
Feature Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Steve Mann
Roof Work Sparks Tar Fire Above Montgomery Village Townhomes
Around 1PM Saturday Afternoon, Montgomery County Firefighters along with firefighters from the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Fire Department responded to the 19,000 block of Capehart Drive in Montgomery Village for a reported townhouse fire.
Firefighters arrived to find residents advising everyone was safely outside, but there was a working fire on the roof of their row of townhomes.
Firefighters used extension ladders and ladder trucks to access the roof and found a small fire, which MCFRS Spokesman Pete Piringer tweeted had been sparked by hot tar from roof work.
Battalion Fire Chief Steve Mann, who was on scene, reported that all firefighters were clearing the scene as of 1:40PM after extinguishing what he described as a small fire on the roof. No injuries were reported.
Floor Collapses Under Firefighters as They Battle Silver Spring House Fire
Montgomery County Firefighters were battling a significant house fire in the 9600 block of Lorain Avenue this morning when compromised sections of the floor collapsed under them and two firefighters fell from the first floor into the basement.
Neither were seriously injured; one reported no injuries while the other Firefighter had minor injuries.
Firefighters from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties were dispatched shortly after 6AM Tuesday, though Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer reported the fire had likely burned undetected for several hours prior to being reported.
Piringer also reported that the home was under renovation and a blown fuse likely contributed to the fire. No civilians were injured in the fire; damage was estimated around $600,000.
