UPDATED: House Fire in Derwood Causes $300,000 in Damages

PHOTO | MCFRS

UPDATED Dozens of Montgomery County firefighters responded to a two-story house fire, before sunrise, at 5905 Willow Knoll Drive in Derwood on Thursday morning.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer said the first firefighters to arrive at the scene encountered heavy flames coming from the first floor of the house.

He said a smoke alarm alerted the occupants in the house of the blaze and they were able to escape safely.

Damages are estimated at $300,000, Piringer said.

According to Piringer, the fire was sparked by misplaced fire ashes.

Piringer said one adult and two children were displaced as a result of the damage to the home.

Firefighters plan to return to the neighborhood to hand out safety tips, and to check smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

Willow Knoll Dr, Derwood, FP ashes on deck/porch was the cause; Damage >$300K; smoke alarms alerted family, no inj pic.twitter.com/o9O7QlM4YF

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

Traffic advisory – Bowie Mill Rd. remains blocked at Willow Knolls Drive near Sequoyah elementary school, FD activity on Willow Knoll Dr

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

ICYMI – (505a) House fire Willow Knoll Dr, 1st arriving FFs encountered heavy fire on 1st floor, >50 FFs on scene pic.twitter.com/HbymanP1Y9

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

Update – Willow Knoll Dr, Derwood, 2-sty house, fire on 1st & 2nd fl, all occupants out, fire under control, pic.twitter.com/mfq8m5F7bX

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

(505a) 5905 Willow Knoll Dr, Derwood, 2- sty house, all occupants out, addl fire crews assisting

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

Traffic advisory – Bowie Mill Road CLOSED between Muncaster Mill and Cashell Road, FD activity

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

Update – (5a) Willow Knoll, family alerted by smoke alarm, all got out, FFs rescued 1 Guinea pig, no civ or FF inj pic.twitter.com/ZBDpXiYcr9

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 7, 2016

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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