Ninety firefighters responded Tuesday night to a Bethesda high-rise apartment building fire that caused around $1.5 million in damage and displaced several residents, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) officials.
MCFRS crews were dispatched at about 11:20 p.m. to a report of a fire at The Promenade Towers at 5225 Pooks Hill Road, according to MCFRS Assistant Chief Public Information Officer David Pazos.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered “heavy smoke” on the sixth floor of the 18-story building and additional firefighters were dispatched to fill a second alarm, Pazos said on social media.
The fire originated in a hallway closet and appeared to be accidental, according to MCFRS officials.
Several people were displaced after the blaze and no injuries were reported, according to MCFRS Chief Public Information Officer Pete Piringer.
Piringer noted on social media the apartment building does not have a fire sprinkler system.
MCFRS crews returned to the building and nearby community Wednesday afternoon to provide fire safety information to residents as part of the department’s After-the-Fire safety campaign.