Man suffers life-threatening injuries in Takoma Park apartment fire

Improperly discarded cigarette likely cause, official says

January 27, 2025 1:43 p.m.

A man suffered life-threatening injuries early Monday morning during a fire in a Takoma Park apartment, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Around midnight, MCFRS crews were dispatched to the 8300 block of Garland Avenue in Takoma Park for the report of smoke coming from an apartment in a two-story multifamily building, Piringer told Bethesda Today on Monday morning.

Responding firefighters encountered flames within a bedroom of a first-floor apartment and found a man lying unconscious in bed, Piringer said. Crews rescued the man and then transported him to a local hospital.

- Advertisement -

Piringer said the man suffered “serious and life-threatening” injuries, but he but did not have an update on the man’s condition as of 11 a.m. Monday. He also was not able to provide details about the man’s age or identity.

Piringer said the cause of the fire, which did not spread to other units in the building, is under investigation, but had written earlier on social media that a cigarette likely started the fire.

“The bed had caught on fire and some other contents in the room, the chair in particular,” Piringer said. It was unclear whether a smoke alarm was working or present in the apartment, he said.

Following two townhouse fires in Wheaton on Sunday and Monday’s fire in Takoma Park, MCFRS  activated an “After the Fire” campaign in the surrounding communities where the fires occurred. During the campaign, crews from neighborhood fire stations go door-to-door in their communities to discuss fire safety with residents and check home fire alarms.

Crews from the Takoma Park and Glenmont fire stations are expected to visit their communities from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday.

Sponsored
Face of the Week

On social media Piringer noted it was a “dangerous time of year” for residential fires due to the use of indoor heaters because of colder temperatures. Piringer encouraged residents to visit the MCFRS home safety webpage for tips.

Smoking is the No. 1 cause of home fire deaths, according to MCFRS.

“If you must smoke, smoke outside,” the safety webpage states. “Most home fires caused by smoking materials start inside the home. Use ashtrays with a wide, stable base that won’t tip over and place ashtrays on a surface that will not ignite.”

Digital Partners

Enter our essay contest