Fort Washington Apartment Fire Displaces 27 - Palmer Road

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Twenty-seven residents of a Fort Washington apartment building will be displaced after a fire damaged top floor units and the buildings roof.  At around 12:30 pm, Saturday, January 10, firefighter/medics were alerted to an apartment fire in the 900 block of Palmer Road in Fort Washington.  Fifth Battalion firefighters from Fort Washington #847, Allentown Road #832 and Oxon Hill Truck 821 were among the first arriving and found a 3-story garden style apartment building with fire in a top floor unit extending up into the attic area.  The fire eventually burned through the roof of the building before being extinguished.

A precautionary Second Alarm was sounded, however, first arriving firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire.  Fortunately no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.  There are 22 adults and 5 children from eleven apartments that will be displaced.  Complex management is attempting to find vacant units for the displaced.

Fire Investigators determined that a malfunctioning furnace located on a a 3rd floor balcony is the cause of the fire.  The fire extended up into the attic causing the majority of the damage.  Fire loss is estimated at $200,000.