Photo by Pete Piringer via Twitter
A fire that seriously damaged a two-story house in Gaithersburg might have been intentionally set, according to a Montgomery County Fire & Rescue spokesman.
Firefighters got a call for the fire around 1 a.m. on Thursday at 16 Marquis Drive, Fire & Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said previously. When firefighters got to the scene, the second floor and roof of the building were burning, he said.
Piringer posted on Twitter Friday that fire investigators think the cause of the fire is arson, and that “evidence of an improvised incendiary device” was found at the scene.
Arson Investigation – 16 Marquis Dr, Gaithersburg/West Riding/Relda Square; Cause, ARSON (intentional); Origin/Cause, exterior of house, rear deck, IAO where deck meets house; NOTE: evidence of an ‘Improvised Incendiary Device’ was located; Damage >$500K; 1 family displaced https://t.co/fXbmc6edjX pic.twitter.com/JzWvzEDud6
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2021
Piringer wrote that the fire caused more than $500,000 in damage and displaced one family, which includes two adults, two children and a dog. The family was not home at the time of the fire, he wrote.
Anyone with information is asked to call the county’s arson tip line at 240-777-2263.
Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@bethesdamagazine.com
