MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
Prince George’s County Firefighters have battled 3 separate
fires over a 12-hour period that caused nearly $500,000 in estimated combined
fire loss.
On Saturday evening, just before 8:30 pm, firefighters from
the Laurel area were alerted to an apartment building on fire in the 13900
block of Briarwood Lane. Fire/EMS units
arrived at the 3-story garden style apartment building with fire showing from
the top floor and roof. A 2nd
Alarm was immediately requested. Initial
arriving units searched the building for occupants and initiated extinguishment
of the fire. As the fire grew in
intensity all firefighters were removed from the interior and the majority of
the fire was knocked down from the safety of exterior positions.
It required about 40 minutes to extinguish the fire. A firefighter from the Laurel Volunteer Fire
Department fell from a ground ladder and was transported to a nearby
hospital. The firefighter was
experiencing pains in his chest area and was held overnight for
observation. He is in Good
condition. No civilian injuries were
reported.
Fire Investigators determined the fire originated on a 3rd
floor balcony from improper disposal of smoking materials. The fire extended from the balcony and up
into the roof of the building. Fire loss
is estimated at $300,000. Nine
apartments were declared uninhabitable and 22 occupants were displaced. The Red Cross provided assistance to the
displaced residents.
While the Laurel fire was still being extinguished
firefighters from the Clinton area were alerted to a commercial building fire
in the 7600 block of Barbara Lane just after 9:00 pm. Fire/EMS units arrived to find a 1-story
warehouse occupied by an automotive repair business with fire and heavy smoke
billowing from the structure. A 2nd
Alarm was sounded bringing additional resources to the scene. At one point all firefighters were evacuated as
the structure became unstable. The fire was extinguished from the safety of
exterior positions.
The structural integrity of the structure was compromised
preventing fire investigators from conducting an interior review of the area of
origin. According to an occupant the
fire started accidentally while work was being done to a car inside the garage
area. The cause of the fire will remain
undetermined until additional investigation can be performed. Fire loss is estimated at $100,000.
One firefighter sustained an ankle injury while battling
this fire. There were no civilian
injuries reported.
Just after 8:30 am, Fathers Day, Sunday, June 19,
firefighters from the Lanham area were alerted to a house fire in the 9300
block of Fontana Drive. Firefighters
from the Landover Hills Fire/EMS Station were the first to arrive and
encountered a 1-story garage converted to a living space with fire showing. The fire was quickly contained and all
searches for occupants proved negative.
The cause of this fire remains under investigation and a preliminary
fire loss is estimated at $75,000. No
injuries were reported at this incident.
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| Briarwood Drive on arrival. Photo by Laurel VFD |
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| Briarwood Drive by Laurel VFD |
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| Warehouse on Barbara Lane in Clinton. Photo by PGFD Batt Chief Steve Kling |
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