Fire Crews Rescue 17 People from Burning Building

More than 74 residents displaced following 3-Alarm Fire in Burtonsville

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Rockville - - - Shortly after 7:00 this morning, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units responded to the report of a fire at the Ashford at Woodlake Apartments located at 14005 Castle Boulevard in Burtonsville. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions to the rear of the structure and a report of residents trapped. First arriving firefighters, along with officers from the Montgomery County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, assisted in the dramatic rescues of seventeen trapped occupants in the initial stages of the fire.

Firefighters quickly made an interior attack and conducted a primary search of the garden-style apartment complex. A second alarm was dispatched as firefighters continued to fight the growing fire. A precautionary third alarm was ultimately dispatched to the scene before the blaze was under control. Over 100 firefighters responded to the scene including personnel from neighboring Howard and Prince George’s County.   

Fire Department personnel evaluated a number of residents on the scene. No residents required transport and there were no reported firefighter injuries. The American Red Cross is currently working with apartment management representatives from the Donaldson Group to assist displaced residents. Montgomery County Fire and Explosive investigators are on the scene conducting an origin and cause investigation. Investigators will be ruling the fire as accidental in nature and believe to have been sparked by an electrical malfunction in a first floor unit. Damage estimates are $1.5 million.

Arrest Made in Chevy Chase 3 Alarm Fire

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 2, 2012

Arrest Made in Chevy Chase 3 Alarm Fire

                                                 

Rockville - - After midnight this morning, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Investigators arrested 24 year old Abraham Ogazgi Kiflu of Chevy Chase. Fire Chief Richard Bowers stated that the man went to the 3^rd District Police Station during the night and asked to speak with the Fire Marshal. During that interview, Kiflu voluntarily confessed to starting the fire. Kiflu was charged with 1^st Degree Arson. Additional charges are pending. Kiflu is a relative of the tenant and was living there at the time of the fire. Exact circumstances and details are not immediately available due to the continuing investigation.

The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. on May 1, 2012 at 2815 Terrace Drive in Chevy Chase. Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigators report that the fire damaged or destroyed 34 units of which 2 were not occupied and displaced more than 100 people. The fire caused in excess $1,000,000.00 damage to the structure and contents. Approximately 125 fire and rescue personnel responded and were on the scene for more than 4 hours.

No civilians were injured. Two firefighters suffered injuries. One firefighter was transported to a local trauma center with serious non life threatening injuries related to heat and the other with minor orthopedic to a local hospital. Both firefighters have since been released. 

  

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