MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
A fire at a Hyattsville senior living apartment building has seriously injured one resident and displaced several others. Just after 11:00 pm, Friday, March 4, 2011, firefighters and paramedics were alerted to an apartment fire with one person burned. Fire/EMS units arrived at the Friendship Arms Apartments at 5805 42nd Avenue in Hyattsville, a 7-story senior citizen apartment building, and made their way to the top floor to investigate.
It is believed that a 7th floor resident, a female in her 50's, was using a curling iron when combustible materials and substances on her hair suddenly ignited. The fire spread to her clothing and quickly ignited other materials in the bathroom. The residential sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire. Firefighters ensured the fire was completely out and removed the seriously injured occupant from the building. Paramedics immediately initiated pre-hospital emergency care and tended to second and third degree burns to the patients upper body. She was transported to a Burn Center in serious condition.
Damaged was minimized by the sprinkler activation with fire loss estimated at $1,000. Sprinkler activation caused water damage to apartment units beneath the unit of of origin. Nine families were relocated due to water issues and having no utility service. Ten adults were displaced with five receiving assistance and alternate housing from apartment management and the Red Cross. Other displaced residents made their own arrangements or stayed with family.
Personnel from the Fire/EMS Department including our Citizens Services Unit remained on the scene well into early Saturday morning assessing damaged units and facilitating relocation of displaced residents.
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