Forestville Townhouse Fire Displaces Eleven - No Injuries

Media Contact: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

Eleven residents, including 1 infant, were displaced after a fire damaged their row of townhouses.  Firefighters from the Forestville area were alerted to a structure fire at about 11:15 pm, Thursday, September 1, 2011.  Fire/EMS units arrived in the 3000 block of Chester Grove and arrived to find a 2-story, end of the row, townhouse with heavy fire showing.  Firefighters had already started their operations to advance hose lines into the interior of the structure when a fire damaged side wall collapsed forcing the evacuation of personnel from the burning structure.  After regrouping outside and ensuring all personnel were safe and accounted for, fire operations continued.  It required about 45 minutes to extinguish the fire.  In addition to the townhouse of origin four other townhouses were damaged and deemed uninhabitable.  No civilian or firefighter injuries occurred.  Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor was in the area at the time of the call and arrived on the scene and observed operations.

The County Citizen Services Unit and the Red Cross will be assisting the displaced residents.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and fire loss is estimated at $525,000. 

Attached photos illustrate the heavy fire conditions consuming the structure that firefighters had to deal with.  All images are by Marc S.Bashoor, Fire Chief.




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