MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us Twitter: @PGFDPIO
911 calls were plentiful at Public Safety Communications
with callers describing being trapped in their apartment condos and some trying
to escape through smoke filled hallways by holding towels against their
face. It was around 10:15 pm, Friday,
February 28, when firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to 2020 Brooks
Drive, District Heights, an 8-story mid-rise building at the Oakcrest Towers
Complex.
Fire/EMS units arrived quickly having been informed by
dispatchers of the situation they were about to face; heavy smoke on the 5th
floor and above with residents trapped. An initial interior update provided by
firefighters indicated heavy smoke conditions on the 5th floor. Additional updates included moderate to heavy
smoke on upper floor hallways as well.
Some residents continued to evacuate, however, the incident
commander ordered residents to “shelter-in-place” allowing firefighters an
opportunity to locate the source of the smoke and only evacuate those residents
in immediate danger.
A precautionary Second Alarm was sounded bringing in
additional resources to the scene. The
majority of the units on the 2nd Alarm were not utilized.
The fire and source of the smoke was soon located in the 5th
floor hallway. It appears a fire was
intentionally set at a door of a unit. The
fire was easily contained and extinguished with smoke removal initiated through
roof vents and the use of fire department fans.
A firefighter and one resident were treated on the scene for
smoke inhalation and transported to a local hospital for treatment. It was anticipated that they would be treated
and released.
Fire Investigators have classified the cause of fire as
incendiary. Fire loss is estimated at
$10,000. There were no displacements.
Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor stated,
“If someone thinks they can commit a heinous act of arson in an occupied
multi-occupancy building and get away with it in Prince George’s County is
wrong. Rest assured that I will not tolerate
this type of activity and have authorized our talented and experienced Fire
Investigators to do everything they can to thoroughly investigate this incident
and arrest the person responsible.”
Anyone with information about this crime of arson that
occurred on the 5th floor of 2020 Brooks Drive on Friday evening at
about 10:15 pm should contact our Arson Tip Line at 301-77-ARSON (301-772-7766). Tips may be left anonymously.
Photos of Fire/EMS units operating on scene are provided courtesy of Assistant Fire Chief Paul Gomez
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