Families Displaced After Gaithersburg Apartment Fire

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Several families were displaced after an accidental fire caused about $150,000 in damages at a Gaithersburg apartment complex.

Around 85 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire at the Sawyer Flats apartments off Rio Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. Spokesperson Pete Piringer said the cause of the fire is undetermined, but it was likely started from discarded smoking materials on the second floor balcony near a furnace closet.

"The resident was a smoker and the only known ignition source within (the) area of origin is discarded smoking material," Piringer posted on Twitter.

Officials said the fire in the walls extended throughout the pipe chase and void areas in the four-story apartment building. Four out of the five apartment units were affected and a dozen people were displaced.

The building was evacuated. No residents were injured, but one firefighter suffered a non-life-threatening injury to his hand, Piringer said.

Photos via Pete Piringer