WASHINGTON — A聽fire forced Bethesda, Md., residents out into the freezing cold聽morning, leaving behind extensive damage in at least three occupied apartments.
Officials say the sprinklers saved lives.聽The fire occurred about 3 a.m. at the 5100 block of Dudley Lane.
鈥淭he damage is estimated to be about a million dollars.聽 We do have a couple families displaced,鈥� said Pete Piringer, senior spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.聽 No residents were hurt, but he said two fire fighters did suffer minor injuries.
He said the buildings have smoke alarms and sprinklers, both of which went off and 聽protected residents.
Three occupied apartments, a model unit, and the leasing office were damaged, Piringer confirmed.
鈥淲hat we found was pretty extensive fire in the walls, floors, ceilings,鈥� he said, adding that 聽the fire was accidental and appears to have started聽in or around a second-floor clothing dryer. 聽The fire had spread inside the walls, along the floors and ceilings.
He said when firefighters arrived, the fire was only visible from a vent, and had not been initially visible to the occupants.
Piringer adds that they鈥檝e had quite a few dryer-related fires this season. 聽“Typically it鈥檚 the lint build-up (that) overheats, and then that causes nearby combustibles, walls, ceiling聽 to catch on fire.鈥�
