RECENT FIRES IN ROCKVILLE BEGAN OUTSIDE (12/6/06)

(ROCKVILLE) - On the morning of December 4th, residents of the 200 block of Congressional Lane heard a large bang. Running outside to investigate, they found a SUV had crashed into a gas meter behind the house, severing it. As they pulled the driver to safety, the leaking fuel erupted into flames a quickly engulfed the side of the townhouse. High winds and the severity of the fire, being fueled by the leaking gas, made this three-alarm fire quite a challenge for responding firefighters. The fire engulfed four townhouses and damaged others before firefighters knocked it down.

At 0730 on December 6th, firefighters responded to North Bethesda for flames showing from the back of a townhouse. The fire went to two-alarms due to the severity of the fire. Investigators believe residents emptied fireplace ashes onto or near the deck of their house in the morning. The heat from those ashes ignited a nearby propane tank causing an explosion which ignited the side of the townhouse.

It is essential that homeowners know the dangers surrounding there house. Gas meters, propane tanks from barbeques, or even fuel that is used for yard equipment can ignite and cause a house fire. Further, numerous fires have resulted from the improper disposal of flammable material and fireplace ashes. Please read our Fireplace Safety page to have a nice and safe holiday season.