Fire at St. Elizabeth Church in Rockville Causes $100,000 in Damage (PHOTOS)
PHOTO | MCFRS
UPDATED 6:36 p.m. on Jan. 10 – A fire at the parish office of St. Elizabeth Church at 917 Montrose Road in Rockville caused an estimated $100,000 in damage early Saturday morning, according to a Montgomery County fire official.
Over 60 firefighters responded to the blaze on Jan. 10.
On his Twitter account, Fire and Rescue Services Spokesperson Pete Piringer said at one point the department was involved in a “firefight” trying to extinguish the blaze which was concealed in the walls of the building. Piringer said there was some extension of the fire to the attic area.
The extreme cold weather also complicated the response for firefighters. According to Piringer, the water used to extinguish the fire quickly turned to ice. He said the temperature on Saturday morning was eleven degrees with a wind chill of minus three degrees in Rockville.
According to Piringer, one firefighter was injured at the scene after slipping on some ice.
The cause of the fire was ruled accidental and related to some heating equipment. Piringer described damage as “significant.”
During the response period, Montrose Road was blocked between Tildenwood Drive and Montrose Parkway.
St Elizabeth’s Rectory/Office, 917 Montrose Rd; Cause, accidental, heating equip; Damage, est $100K; 65FF on scene pic.twitter.com/4tuQakotqT
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
U/D – St E’s, Rockville, 1 FF inj leg, slip on ice; Fire under control, significant damage to Rectory/Office area pic.twitter.com/iY58DFwgl6
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
Weather Observation at scene of fire in R’ville, Temp 11 degrees, Wind Chill -3, Fire out, but water turned to ice pic.twitter.com/Ab1f2VH1MR
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
U/D – St E’s Church, fire involved Rectory/Parish Office, R/O Church Sanctuary, stubborn fire in concealed areas pic.twitter.com/6jv96pnBcZ — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
Traffic Advisory – Tildenwood Dr & Montrose Rd – BLOCKED by FD activity ( hose ) pic.twitter.com/5S0EHncbXQ — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
U/D -R/O 917 Montrose Rd, St Elizabeth’s Church, bulk of fire knocked, checking extension & overhaul, 1 FF inj pic.twitter.com/pUZsUbpqko — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
Traffic advisory – Montrose Rd & Montrose Parkway BLOCKED in both directions between Tildenwood Dr & Montrose Pkwy pic.twitter.com/jRMYuvFtPa — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
U/D – St Elizabeth’s Church & school, bldg to rear of church, 1-sty, FFs engaged in firefight, exterior fire knocked down w/ extension — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
St Elizabeth’s Church, 917 Montrose Rd, fire in bldg — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 10, 2015
Was the fire in the vestibule of the church?
Clarification of these articles: our parish office and rectory are two different buildings. The parish office had the fire; there was no impact on the rectory. Everyone is safe and our staff offices are being relocated to the Church Commons, while the damaged building is being dealt with.
Kathy-
I am so very sorry. A friend called me while I was working up in Frederick today to tell
me about the fire. Pls tell Msgr Macfarlane and Fr. Jacob how sorry I am, too.
Wishing you all the best,
Fran
Saying a prayer of thanks that no one was injured by this fire.
Dear Kathy–so glad no one was injured and the Church and School weren’t damaged. Please convey my concern and sorrow to Msgr Macfarland.
To members of Saint Elizabeth’s Church
I’m not a Catholic but my Brother In Law Scott is
my sister’s name is Elizabeth.
Myself and my Sister grew up on Farmland Drive in Old Farm in the 60/70s. My Dentist Dr. Harold Blank is just across the street on Tildenwoods Drive. So I’m very familiar with the growth of ur Church. Our next door neighbors the Collins family were members of Saint Elizabeth’s Church. I remember a story Mrs Collins told me that one Sunday early morning mass when their youngest daughter Curtie (about. 4 at the time) during the Communion part of the mass said something out loud like “why is the priest having breakfast in church before we have ours”
I heard about the fire on wtop radio yesterday morning news. I’m sorry about your loss and wish you Church a speedie recovery from the fire
Best Regards
Jim Spinks
Seabrook MD