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Lightning Strike Fire Displaces 24 People In Germantown Apartment
A fire at an apartment complex in Germantown Tuesday night displaced all of the buildings' residents, but no civilians were injured.
GERMANTOWN, MD — An apartment fire believed to have been started by a lightning strike displaced about two dozen people Tuesday evening in Germantown.
The Millhaven Condos building off Seneca Highway is three levels, with 12 apartments units inside, said Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein. The fire appeared to be on the top level of the building, growing in the attic spaces.
Eighty fire and rescue personnel responded to the fire — no civilians were harmed, said Goldstein, but two firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
Find out what's happening in Germantownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The apartment building was uninhabitable after the fire, displacing all of the residents. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer estimated the damage to be around $2.5 million.
More …..A MCPD Officer on a traffic stop on the adjacent roadway witnessed the exact lightening strike. @mcfrs Fire Investigators concluded lightening struck 13111 Millhaven Pl & ignited lightweight constructed building materials in area of roof line & unnoticed for a shortime https://t.co/BeNteA9tk3 pic.twitter.com/Vqvh1WkvX3
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2021
Pets were rescued from the building, including one cat who was brought down from the third floor.
Find out what's happening in Germantownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Update - cat’s meow …. Millhaven Pl, cat rescued from 3rd floor & turned over to pet owner, cat was Smokey, dirty & wet, but otherwise appeared to be OK https://t.co/g5NcRKO63o pic.twitter.com/3WFbdsHSpo
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 10, 2021
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