Car crashes into house in Aspen Hill

It was a wild night in a part of Aspen Hill near the InterCounty Connector. A vehicle left the roadway in the 1400 block of Woodwell Road, climbed a steep front yard, crashed right into the front door of a home, and burst into flames just after 1:00 AM this morning. The driver was extricated by firefighters, and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer. Two occupants of the home managed to exit without injury. @MoCoPGNews captured some dramatic video of the scene on Twitter.

Copper Canyon Grill in Silver Spring repairing fire damage to restaurant

Copper Canyon Grill at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring remains closed after the restaurant was damaged by a fire on the morning of July 12. Sixty-five firefighters were needed on scene to extinguish the kitchen blaze, which traveled through the ductwork of the restaurant, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Heavy smoke drifted up through the roof, and the odor of smoke was detected by residents as far away as Four Corners. 

A major part of the repairs will be to the grease duct in the kitchen. As the name suggests, the grease duct vents grease-laden vapors that are flammable from kitchen equipment. They require regular maintenance to avoid buildup of grease residue that can cause fires. A sign in the restaurant window does not mention the fire as the reason for the current closure, nor an estimated timeline for reopening of the business.

Brush fire in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services is responding to a report of a brush fire in Aspen Hill. Firefighters have been sent to the scene in the 4600 block of Harlan Street, a residential street just off Aspen Hill Road.

House fire in Burtonsville

Montgomery County firefighters are battling a house fire on multiple floors of a home in the 3000 block of Schubert Drive in Burtonsville. A hole has opened in one of the floors, according to scanner reports, and there is concern about animals in the home. The fire was reported at 9:33 AM this morning.

Arcing insulator at Wheaton Metro station

Update 9:20 AM: Firefighters are leaving the scene. MCFRS spokesperson says the incident is now an "ongoing maintenance issue" for Metro

More evidence that WMATA's "surge" repair gimmick has utterly failed: Firefighters are right now responding to an arcing insulator incident at the Wheaton Metro station, just as they have regularly along the Red Line prior to the "surge."

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer says a WMATA emergency response team is also en route to the scene. Trains are already single-tracking between Wheaton and Forest Glen.

Manna Restaurant fire blocks traffic in Takoma Park

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a fire at Manna Restaurant around 5:00 AM this morning at 8640 Flower Avenue in Takoma Park. More than 77 firefighters are on the scene of the blaze at the popular Dominican restaurant, according to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The intersection of Piney Branch Road and Flower Avenue is currently closed due to fire department activity. Watch for other lane closures around the scene, if you can't avoid it altogether.

Fire at Wheaton Park Beer & Wine

Firefighters responded to the Wheaton Park shopping center around 9:00 PM last night after a report of smoke coming from the Wheaton Park Beer & Wine store. An electrical fire in the walls was discovered and extinguished, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. No injuries were reported.

Seventh deceased victim found in rubble at Flower Branch explosion site in Silver Spring

More tragic news from the site of the horrific August 10 explosion and fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring: a seventh deceased victim was found inside the collapsed building on Tuesday. Montgomery County Police have not yet made public the names of the victims. The fact that seven residents were known to be missing after the explosion suggests the recovery operation may be nearing its end. However, the search continues today, to ensure that any unknown victims are found.

The investigation continues, as well. Federal authorities may have a preliminary conclusion about the explosion's cause before the week ends. Therapy dogs have been brought in from Frederick County to help residents traumatized by the tragedy, the Frederick News-Post reported late last night.

Flower Branch Apartments explosion death toll rises to six in Silver Spring

Search teams located the remains of a sixth victim in the rubble at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring yesterday. The deceased victim was found at the apartment complex in the 8700 block of Arliss Street in the Long Branch area. All six perished in the August 10 explosion, fire and resulting building collapse at the complex.

None of the six dead have been publicly identified, but Montgomery County Police have said they are among the eight missing people they identified a few days ago. That list dropped to seven missing yesterday, when - in a rare positive development since the explosion - police confirmed that Oscar Armando Ochoa is alive and well. Ochoa had recently moved out of the Flower Branch Apartments, but his name was not removed from the roster of tenants for unknown reasons.

Washington Gas completed an inspection of its infrastructure at the site Monday. One other intriguing development yesterday was the sudden arrival onsite of federal inspectors from the National Surface Transportation Safety Board's Pipeline Division.

WUSA9 reported yesterday that the apartment complex had over 1600 code violations in two Montgomery County inspections prior to 2014.

Flower Branch Apartments explosion death toll now at 5 in Silver Spring

The terrible news just gets worse at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, where the death toll from a horrific explosion late last Wednesday night now stands at five. Recovery teams located the fifth deceased victim yesterday afternoon. 

Montgomery County Police investigators have not identified the five victims as of this writing, but have released a list of those confirmed missing. They include: Saeda Ibrahim, age 41; Augusto Jimenez Sr., age 62; Maria Auxiliadorai Castellon-Martinez, age 53; Aseged Mekonen, age 34; Deibi “David” Samir Lainez Morales, age 8; Oscar Armando Ochoa, age 55; Fernando Josue Hernandez Orellana, age 3; and Saul Paniagua, age 65.

The ongoing search and investigation now includes MCPD, the Department of Fire and Rescue Service, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Piney Branch Rd. fire/explosion injures civilians, FFs; mass casualty incident declared

Update 5:24 AM: 5-7 people unaccounted for in Piney Branch Road explosion and fire, according to MCFRS; search teams are using K-9s; the musical chairs regarding the shelter for displaced residents now has them at Long Branch Community Center, about 60 residents sheltering there

Update 2:55 AM: Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security deployed to Piney Branch scene, along with MCHHS and American Red Cross

Update 2:40 AM: Firefighter reports via radio that there appears to be a "gas-fed fire" in a second floor apartment on the rear side of an unspecified building at the Piney Branch scene

Update 2:32 AM: Firefighter says via radio that he sees active fire in a 1st floor apartment at 8703 Arliss Street; chief informs crews inside upper floor of that building that there may be fire below them; MCFRS cannot locate Pepco rep on scene to address electrical issues

Update 2:26 AM:  MCFRS spokesman says damage includes structural collapse of apartment building where explosion occurred, and collateral damage to nearby buildings; shelter for displaced victims now reported to have moved from Blair HS to Long Branch Public Library at 8700 Piney Branch Road, according to Dee Howard Richards of MCFRS

Update 2:20 AM:  MCFRS spokesman says about 2 dozen injured in explosion/fire, many more evaluated by EMS personnel; firefighters still asking for help from Pepco - they can still see lights on in the rear of the apartment building at 8703 Arliss Street, according to scanner reports: "We really need Pepco;" another firefighter at scene reports "at this point, there's no visible fire in 8701" Piney Branch Road; fire chief says via radio they are trying to get crews into left side of 8701

Update 1:50 AM: Firefighters still seeing blue flames at the scene, indicating gas-fed fire; one says "let it burn through the roof, and see what we've got;" Washington Gas still working to shut off gas to two other buildings; still concern that power lines could fall on firefighters: "We need Pepco back here," firefighter says; UNCONFIRMED report: Civilians victims include 29-year-old female transported to Medstar Washington Hospital Center, 6-month-old child transported to Children's Hospital

Update 1:39 AM: At least 2 firefighters injured, transported to local hospitals; one to Shady Grove Adventist, one to Walter Reed, according to scanner reports

Update 1:26 AM: Fire still active, HHS opening shelter for residents

An explosion and fire at an apartment building early this morning in the 8600 block of Piney Branch Road near Arliss Street, in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring, has been declared a mass casualty incident. There are multiple injuries to civilians and firefighters, including burns. Firefighters are still trying to locate and evacuate any remaining residents, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The three-alarm blaze is being fed by natural gas, and the fire and explosion have caused extensive structural damage to the apartment building. According to scanner reports, Washington Gas is on-scene and "working in the front yard." Firefighters were instructed to use caution until Washington Gas can cut off gas service to the affected properties.

MCFRS has not yet publicly identified the name of the apartment complex, but have given the address as 8644/8701 Piney Branch Road.

"We're going to be re-engaging [when] the gas is out," a firefighter said at 1:16 AM via radio.

"There is no more fire, but this is an extremely unstable building," another firefighter said a minute later. However, by 1:23 AM, another firefighter reported an "active fire" at another location of the building.

According to Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker, the County Department of Health and Human Services is setting up a temporary shelter for the many displaced residents of the complex at Blair High School. Hucker also says that the American Red Cross is now also assisting displaced residents.

Stay tuned for updates here, and at @SilverSprung on Twitter.

Photos via Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Fire in Colesville area displaces two

A townhouse fire late Tuesday night in the Colesville area of Silver Spring has displaced two, and caused over $100,000 in damage to the home and contents. Smoke alarms alerted the residents to a fire caused by an arcing electric socket by a bed around 11:30 PM in the 1100 block of Good Hope Road.

Firefighters were quickly able to locate and extinguish the fire, which had started in a second floor bedroom of the home. No one was injured, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Fire at Burger King on Veirs Mill Road; 2nd MoCo BK fire in a month

A second Montgomery County Burger King restaurant has experienced a fire begun in its deep fryer since early August. Last night, firefighters responded to a 911 call at the 12265 Veirs Mill Road Burger King in Silver Spring.

Upon arriving, they found a grease fire in the restaurant kitchen's deep fryers, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said. A similar deep fryer blaze ignited in early August at a Burger King on Shady Grove Road. Last night's fire was not as severe, as firefighters were able to contain it from spreading.

No injuries were reported in last night's incident, but a health inspector had to be called in to determine if there was any reason the restaurant couldn't immediately reopen.

Fire at Winexburg Manor apartments in Glenmont

Firefighters responded to a laundry room fire at Winexburg Manor at 2301 Glenallan Avenue in Glenmont Tuesday night. The apartment complex had to be partially evacuated due to smoke, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

Responders quickly brought the fire, which was contained within a single dryer unit, under control. No injuries or significant damage were reported.

House fire in Hammond Hill (Photos)

Montgomery County firefighters responded to a fire in the 3300 block of Pendleton Drive in Silver Spring yesterday afternoon. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said an air conditioner contractor had been "sweating" the pipes earlier in the day at the home. Fortunately, the fire was contained in the walls, and there was only moderate damage, Piringer said. No injuries were reported.

The home is in the Hammond Hill neighborhood, just off Veirs Mill Road.

Photos by Pete Piringer

White Drive fire causes over $600,000 in damage in Silver Spring (Photos)

A house fire in the 12500 block of White Drive in the North Springbrook subdivision of Silver Spring caused over $600,000 in damage early Wednesday morning. Initially concerned that - despite cars in the driveway - the family residing there was unaccounted for, it was eventually determined that they were on vacation, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

Although the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, an initial investigation concluded the fire began on the first floor of the home. No injuries were reported, Piringer said, but one firefighter was evaluated for possible heat exhaustion at the scene. Heavy fire led to a roof collapse at the home.

Photos by Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Residents in the dark again at University Towers

A second electrical fire this week yesterday has blacked out the University Towers condominiums at 1111 University Boulevard W. in Silver Spring. More than 1000 residents are without air conditioning, hot water and other basic services at the 275 unit complex.

Electrical contractors, engineers and others worked throughout the day Tuesday to resolve the outage, which began after the property's second fire in 72 hours, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. He said the condo's fire alarm system remains functional.

Montgomery County code enforcement officers have inspected the situation and posted a violation notice at the property, Piringer said.

Despite the heat, most residents are sticking it out in their units overnight. For those who want out, the Red Cross has now established a shelter at Blair High School. The Parents Coalition of Montgomery County tweeted a query as to as why the closer Northwood High School was not utilized - good question.

A more long term question that must be on the minds of University Towers residents: How did this happen? And, how much is it going to cost them to fix? As a condo building, unless a contractor or other 3rd party can be fingered for this, the cost will likely fall on residents to pay off with a higher condo fee.

Electrical fire blacks out University Towers in Silver Spring (Photos)

An electrical fire in the boiler room at University Towers at 6:15 PM last night had residents stuck in elevators, sheltering in place, and in the dark for hours. Power was restored to all apartments by around 11 PM.

The condominium at 1121 University Boulevard W. has more than 1000 residents in its 15 stories. After the fire was extinguished, the evacuated residents were told to shelter in place until PEPCO could restore power. No injuries were reported, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. Several residents were evaluated by EMTs, however.

Photo: Pete Piringer

Wheaton Woods ES evacuated by haze, odor

Wheaton Woods Elementary School was evacuated yesterday afternoon, after occupants noticed a strange odor and haze in the air. Firefighters responded to the school at 4510 Faroe Place to find a haze of smoke throughout the building.

Eventually the room the haze was emitting from was located, and fire officials were investigating the source at last report, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer.

One student took to Twitter to report his take on the incident during the evacuation:

Wayne Manchester Towers fire in Silver Spring displaces 4 families (Photos)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a fire at the Wayne Manchester Towers apartments in Silver Spring yesterday around 7:30 AM. The two-alarm blaze that started in a top floor apartment required over 100 firefighters to extinguish the flames, and rescue residents, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

Piringer noted that working smoke alarms in the building were a major reason all occupants escaped injury. But some needed to be rescued by firefighters, trapped by flames and smoke. An explosion reportedly blew out a window at the 8-story building at 25 E. Wayne Avenue.

The blaze, smoke and water damage caused over $125,000 in damage, according to Piringer. Its cause remains under investigation as of this writing.

Photos by Pete Piringer