Friday’s fire at a Gaithersburg apartment building was touched off by improperly discarded smoking materials and caused $800,000 in damages, authorities said.
Dozens of residents were displaced and 24 apartments were affected, county Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Pete Piringer said Monday.
Three residents were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and one for a minor hand injury.
The blaze began at around 1:30 p.m. on a second-floor balcony of the 252-unit Saybrooke Apartments complex and was under control by 2:15 p.m.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the apartments at 204 Sunny Brook Terrace and found flames streaming from the top of the complex.
Piringer said a number of residents and pets where helped from the building.
Woodfield and Emory Grove roads were both shut down in the area. Nearby Flower Hill Elementary School experienced delays in transporting students home at the end of the school day.
Firefighters returned to the area Saturday morning to check smoke alarms and speak with residents about fire safety, Piringer said.
Firefighters from Derwood and Gaithersburg visited hundreds of apartment units near the scene.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
