Woman Rescued From House Fire Ruled Arson: Officials

NORTH BETHESDA, MD — A woman was rescued from a North Bethesda townhouse after an explosion blew out a window and door during an incident authorities ruled an arson early Thursday morning.

Montgomery County police officers on patrol nearby heard an explosion in the 1100 block of Cedarwood Dr. and responded to the home at about 2:15 a.m., Montgomery County Fire & Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said.

Forty-five firefighters then responded to the scene and found the main floor of the home up in flames. The front window and back door were knocked out by the explosion, Piringer said.

Piringer said the fire was intentional and caused about $40,000 in damage. Two people were displaced and the woman was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

This incident is under investigation. Patch will update this post as more information becomes available.

Photos via Pete Piringer