House Fire Injures 4, Including Firefighter; Kills 3 Dogs

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD — Four people were taken to the hospital — including a firefighter and a person with life-threatening injuries — after an overnight blaze at a house in Montgomery Village that also killed three dogs, according to authorities.

Emergency personnel responded around 1 a.m. Sunday to the 9600 block of Whetstone Drive, where they encountered heavy fire and rescued three people, one of whom was trapped, tweeted Pete Piringer, chief spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.

The blaze required a response of about 75 firefighters, displaced a family and caused roughly $750,000 in damage, according to Piringer, who said the fire likely started in the back screened-in porch area and was suspected to have been caused by a malfunctioning lamp or cord.

The home had working smoke alarms that were heard by at least two occupants, Piringer tweeted. Firefighters were going door-to-door Sunday, speaking with neighbors about the blaze, checking alarms and discussing safety.