Crime & Safety

Basement Fire Displaces Three Families In Gaithersburg

A firefighter suffered a non-life threatening injury while responding to a call about a fire in a Gaithersburg townhouse.

All residents were able to get out of the building safely, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer.
All residents were able to get out of the building safely, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer. (Photo Courtesy of Pete Piringer)

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Three families were displaced and one firefighter was injured after a basement fire likely caused by an HVAC malfunction spread through a Gaithersburg townhouse Thursday afternoon.

Fire crews fighting the blaze in Gaithersburg. (Photo Courtesy of Pete Piringer)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded to calls about the fire around 4 p.m. All residents were out and the fire was contained within the hour but 10 to 12 people from three families were displaced, according to Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The estimated damage is over $700,000, Piringer said on Twitter.

Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Firefighters went around the Carousel Court community on Friday as part of the "After the Fire" initiative to improve fire safety.

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