A two-alarm fire Thursday morning at a four-story apartment building in Aspen Hill displaced 33 residents while causing about $700,000 in damage and leaving the structure unsafe to occupy, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) officials.
The blaze was likely started by an overheated “knock-off” phone charger in a bed in a third-floor apartment, according to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer. No other ignition sources were discovered, he wrote on social media.
Two adults were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries due to smoke inhalation, according to Piringer.
At around 9:45 a.m., more than 80 firefighters responded to a fire in an apartment at 3502 Pear Tree Court. Piringer said six people, five adults and one juvenile, and two cats were rescued from the top floor of the four-story building via a ladder.
In a video posted on X, Piringer said “pretty significant smoke” was coming from the building when firefighters arrived at the scene. By 10:42 a.m., the time of Piringer’s post, the bulk of the blaze had been knocked down.
Silver Spring, MD – Aerial from the scene of a two alarm fire in the 3500blk of Peartree Court. @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 @TheMoCoShow @ModeratelyMoco @CordellTraffic @HHFireProds @ArmisteadIsaac @mcpnews @mcfrs @Djp1Me @DCNewsLive @alanhenney @DCNewsNow #mcfrs @MoCoFireWire… pic.twitter.com/IwC1kQDFfa
— Tim Pruss, MyDrone.Pro (@MyDronePro) October 31, 2024
At about 11:10 a.m., the fire was reported to be completely out, Piringer wrote on social media.
According to Piringer, the building did not have sprinklers but did have functional smoke alarms. The fire department was notified by a resident pulling a fire alarm in the building, he said.
Final Update – 3502 Pear Tree Ct, Cinnamon Run, 4-sty apt; non-sprinklered, local pull alarm, functional smoke alarms; fire on 3rd floor, apt unoccupied at time; Origin/Cause, bedroom, accidental, likely ‘knock-off’ phone charger overheated; Damage ~$500K; 32 residents displaced pic.twitter.com/soCOYiv5bc
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 31, 2024
Piringer did not immediately respond to MoCo360’s request by phone Thursday afternoon for more information about the blaze.
