UPDATE: Fire at Kensington Condo Complex Causes $2 Million in Damage
Update: The fire at The Waterford Condominium in Kensington has affected 15 condos, according to Pete Piringer, the spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services. Piringer said on Twitter that the building was built in the mid-1960s and is “non-sprinklered.”
Fourteen of the 15 damaged condos are from both smoke and water damage, but one is damaged primarily from the fire, said Piringer. Overall, Piringer said that the building has $2 million worth of damages.
Fire officials believe that the fire was caused by a candle or incense, or something electrical in the bedroom.
“[The condo] had [a] large amount of household clutter but not to the level of hoarding,” Piringer tweeted.
Firefighters returned to the building Tuesday evening for their “After-the-Fire” program. There, they checked smoke alarms and talked to residents about fire safety.
Update -3333 University Blvd W Waterford Condominium bldg dates back to mid1960’s & has nearly 150 Condo/Apts. The bldg is non-sprinklered. 15 units are impacted (Fire, Smoke, Water) & not occupied tonite. 1 from primary fire damage & 14 from smoke & water damage. Damage $2M pic.twitter.com/f61btQuepM
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
TODAY (this eve) @mcfrs FF Crews return to Kensington Condo Neighborhood (Waterford) w/ an ‘After-the-Fire’ (515a 4/2) initiative checking/installing smoke alarms & talking to area residents about fire safety, escape plans & the value of working Smoke Alarms & sprinklers https://t.co/q5W7t0CMZf
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 3, 2019
Original Post
Residents Evacuated From 12-Story Condo Complex Tuesday Morning Because of Fire
Firefighters were dispatched at around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday morning responding to a fire on the ninth floor of a Kensington condominium complex.
In a video posted to Twitter, Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, said the fire was showing from the rear of the building, at 3333 University Blvd. The condo complex, The Waterford Condominium, has 12 floors and 150 units, Piringer said.
Piringer said residents were able to safely evacuate from the building — some of them with the help of firefighters.
Two residents were taken to the hospital because of the fire, including the resident who owned the condo where the fire originated, according to Piringer. In the video, Piringer said the owner was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
“[A]pparently she was able to discover the fire, came out, activated the building’s fire alarm, which alerted others and they were able to get out,” Piringer said in the building.
In addition to the two residents, one firefighter was also taken to the hospital, according to Piringer. There were no major injuries from the fire, Piringer said.
Overall, about 100 firefighters came out to put out the fire, Piringer said. He said the fire “did extend beyond the apartment of origin […] both vertically and horizontally.”
According to Piringer, American Red Cross came out to assist in providing care.
Piringer said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Damage to the building is “significant,” he said.
Most of the residents of the building have been able to reoccupy the building, but Piringer said dozens will be displaced because of fire, water, and smoke damage.
Piringer tweeted photos and videos of the fire and the aftermath.
Update – 3333 University Blvd, fire showing from balcony, https://t.co/Mva6Zqm4pr
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Traffic advisory – University Boulevard closed, fire department activity, hoses across the road https://t.co/EcgHMiETf5
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Update – University Boulevard, fire on 9th floor with extension, building being evacuated, some residents being assistant
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
3rd Alarm https://t.co/H3HDr0ADnK
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
3 Alarm Fire Waterford Apts University Boulevard pic.twitter.com/kqA89uMnZV
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Waterford Apts, 3333 University Blvd W pic.twitter.com/aa5CaezIOT
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Update – 3-Alarm Waterford Apts, 3343 University Blvd, high-rise residential apartment building, fire on 9th floor with extension, smoke conditions on upper floors, bldg being evacuated pic.twitter.com/sAwJxGSomR
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Traffic Advisory – 3333 University Blvd W bldg fire – University Blvd CLOSED Btwn Connecticut Avenue & Veirs Mill Road pic.twitter.com/IfGgVmbvvw
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
(515a) 3-Alarm Waterford Apts, 3333 University Blvd W, fire on 9th Floor w/ extension, bulk of fire knocked down, >100 FFs on scene pic.twitter.com/Z76rdgAzbk
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
(515a) Waterford Apts – condition upon arrival fire on ninth floor, no serious injuries, >100 @mcfrs FFs on scene 3-Alarm Fire pic.twitter.com/8H86aK30Iq
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Update – 3333 University Blvd, fire on 9th floor involved 2 apartments, FFs assisted w/ Numerous rescues from upper floors. Fire is now out & residents beginning to reocccupy some of 4,5,6 & all of 1,2,3. Emergency Management @ReadyMontgomery, Red Cross & building mgt assisting pic.twitter.com/PYZigsMvfh
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Update – 3-Alarm, University Blvd; 2 civilian residents & 1 FF transported, all NLT injuries; Cause under investigation; significant damage; most residents reoccupied, however residents from ~dozen condo/apt units displaced (fire, smoke, water); NOTE: non-sprinklered building pic.twitter.com/1ZQy98SmXJ
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
Our @ReadyMontgomery staff are on scene at 3333 University Blvd along with @MCFRS, @MoCoDHHS, and @RedCrossNCR to provide assistance to affected residents following this morning's high-rise building fire. pic.twitter.com/IoKhfd3qyv
— Montgomery Co OEMHS (@ReadyMontgomery) April 2, 2019
Kensington Apartment Fire Causes Traffic Delays
The fire The Waterford Condominium has caused significant traffic delays Tuesday morning.
Currently, all lanes are back open.
All lanes now open in both directions on University Blvd (MD 193) following earlier closures between Hobson Street and St. Paul Street. #MDtraffic
— Montgomery Co OEMHS (@ReadyMontgomery) April 2, 2019
Here’s some of the information about how traffic was affected from earlier in the morning:
Only one large block of University Ave is blocked to traffic, in front of Waterford Condominium at 3333 University Blvd. Coming south on Univ can do u-turn or turn left on Hobson St. Coming north, St Paul is diversion point. pic.twitter.com/xJ8PHztN8k
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) April 2, 2019
Traffic Advisory – WB University Blvd CLOSED, EB University Blvd W Rt193 portions now OPEN St Paul St & Hobson St (between Connecticut Avenue & Viers Mill Road) pic.twitter.com/TMbZegK4rP
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 2, 2019
#Chopper4 now showing the smoke and fire damage inflicted by a 9th floor, 3-alarm fire at Kensington's Waterford Condominium this morning, University Blvd West still closed, follow @First4Traffic for updates #BreakingNews @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/i37P6eEEXg
— ʙʀᴀᴅ ꜰʀᴇɪᴛᴀꜱ (@Chopper4Brad) April 2, 2019
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