MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
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| Conditions on arrival. Photo by PGFD Firefighter James Williams |
Prince George’s
County Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in an Oxon Hill apartment
building this morning. Just after 8:00
am, Saturday, April 19, firefighter/medics were alerted to a fire at 5512
Livingston Terrace. Fire/EMS units
arrived to find a 3-story garden style apartment building in The Oaks at Park South complex with fire showing
from a top floor unit with extension up into and through the roof.
Anticipating heavy fire conditions on the upper floor and roof a 2nd alarm was
immediately requested bringing additional fire/EMS resources to the scene.
Firefighters
advanced hose lines into the building and up to the top floor and started to
extinguish the fire. Other firefighters
were performing a systematic search of the entire building. Prior to the Fire
Department arrival, a resident activated the buildings internal fire alarm
bells alerting occupants to evacuate.
Fortunately, all the occupants had exited the building safely.
Firefighters
soon discovered the fire had started in a utility closet housing the heat and
air conditioning unit (HVAC) on the
balcony. Fire extended upward and caused
significant damage to the roof of the building.
Smoke alarms inside apartments did not sound a warning because the heat
and smoke bypassed the interior and went straight from the balcony utility
closet to the roof.
It required
about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire with the majority knocked down by the first
arriving crews. Some 2nd
Alarm units assisted with salvage and overhaul.
Five apartments
are uninhabitable. Displaced residents
include 13 adults and 14 children. The
displaced residents are being assisted by a combination of the American Red
Cross, County Citizen Services Unit and apartment complex management.
The cause of the
fire is listed as accidental and attributed to a malfunctioning HVAC unit. Fire loss is estimated at $250,000.
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