MoCo, DC Fire Crews Battle Large Fire At Church In Chevy Chase

CHEVY CHASE, MD — A large fire caused extensive damage to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Western Avenue in Chevy Chase Monday afternoon, according to Montgomery County fire officials.

A call came in about the fire shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Monday for the fire at the church, located at 5460 Western Ave. in Chevy Chase, on the border of Maryland and D.C.

Fire and rescue crews from Montgomery County and D.C. responded to the fire. Officials said the fire caused structural damage inside the church.

The fire caused a collapse inside the church, trapping some firefighters battling the blaze, WTOP reported.

“They were rescued pretty quickly and were uninjured,” Charles Bailey, the nominee to be Montgomery County’s fire chief, said during a news conference outside the church Monday afternoon.

By 2:30 p.m. on Monday, fire crews had put out the flames.

Traffic was blocked on Western Avenue between Wisconsin Avenue and Connecticut Avenue for most of Monday afternoon. Shortly after 5 p.m., lanes had reopened on Western Avenue near Livingston Street, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer said.

DC Fire and EMS said it worked closely with Montgomery County to fight the fire.