Stormy Weather Causes Chaos: Firefighters Respond to Lightning, Fires, Power Outages

Wednesday afternoon’s turbulent weather wreaked havoc on the region and kept Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services quite busy.

Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for MCFRS, tweeted that firefighters responded to more than 100 911 calls related to weather between 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. ABC7’s Lindsey Mastis reported on Twitter that more than 700 people lost power in Montgomery County.

This photo taken at Butler’s Orchard really sets the mood of the chaotic afternoon:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9VaDEB8D9/

And here’s a look at some of the chaos happening in the late afternoon:

House Struck by lightning on Spring Meadows Drive

Update – Spring Meadows Drive, house struck by lightning, no fire evident, numerous lightning strikes in the area https://t.co/qYO2qamVC5 pic.twitter.com/ek259FD8ky

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Electrical fire in Chevy Chase bedroom.

4700blk Bradley Blvd., Chevy Chase, electrical fire in bedroom, fire out, no injuries

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Smoke in attic on Broschart Road near Diamond Back Drive

Update – RICA Broscart Rd, HVAC malfunction on roof, fire under control, Broschart Rd shut down between Blackwell Road and great Seneca Highway https://t.co/FvT0oGUIIg pic.twitter.com/3ObDOxx5Tf

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Collision near Home Depot in the area of Georgia Avenue and Connecticut Avenue.

Georgia Avenue and Connecticut Avenue, near Home Depot, collision

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Lightning causes barn fire in the area of Esworthy Road and Seneca.

Firefighters helped animals get safely out of barn.

14709 Spring Meadows Drive near Seneca Road, House struck by lightning

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Update – Esworthy Drive, 20×30’ small barn, Fire out

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Downed tree causes lanes to be blocked on Democracy Boulevard between Old Georgetown Road and Fernwood Road

Tree down blocks Democracy Boulevard between Old Georgetown Road and Fernwood Rd, Some lanes blocked

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Collision on Woodfield Road and Churchill Downs Road in Laytonsville

Update -RT 124 Woodfield Rd. and Churchhill Downs Road, collision, T-bone collision with entrapment, Rt124 CLOSED/BLOCKED at Brink Rd, @MCFRS_EMIHS working with person pending vehicle, Pri1 trauma https://t.co/eI8yxyay9w

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Update – Woodfield Road & Churchill Downs Rd, Rt124 closed between Rocky Road and Brink Road, @MCFRS_EMIHS evaluating 3 patients, incl 1 pinned, 1 Pri1 trauma & 2 Pri2 traumas https://t.co/eI8yxyay9w

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Update – Woodfield Road, pinned person has been extricated, @MCFRS_EMIHS transporting Pri1 trauma https://t.co/N5ELNM7VP2

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

UPDATE (initial dispatch ~420p) Woodfield Road near Churchhill Downs Road, T-bone collision with entrapment, 1 person extricated, @MCFRS_EMIHS transporting 3 trauma patients, Rt124 closed https://t.co/N5ELNM7VP2 pic.twitter.com/y56mikwXY4

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Tree falls down and strikes vehicle in Kensington on Old Field Drive, off of Saul Road

10200blk Old Field Dr. off Saul Road, Kensington, tree down & struck vehicle, brought down wires and several poles in area, road blocked

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Downed tree causes road closure on Bradley Boulevard near Arlington Road

Bradley Boulevard near Arlington Road, large tree down, road closed

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Tree down on Democracy Blvd at Old Georgetown Road (MD 187) closing the westbound lanes. Expect significant delays. Seek alternate route. #mdtraffic

— Montgomery Co OEMHS (@ReadyMontgomery) July 22, 2020

Lanes blocked because of collision involving cement truck and tractor trailer between Middlebrook Road and Montgomery Village Avenue.

SB I270 Between Middlebrook Road and Montgomery Village Avenue, collision, main lanes, involves tractor trailer and cement truck, Some lanes

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Building struck by lightning off Crown Park Avenue in Gaithersburg.

210 DeCloverly Drive off Crown Park Avenue, Gaithersburg, building struck by lightning

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Vehicle fire involving bus on Veirs Mill Road and Ferrara Avenue.

Veirs Mill Road and Ferrara Avenue, vehicle fire, involves a bus

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

House Fire on Brighton Dam Road.

Mutual Aid HowCo – 14100 Brighton Dam Road, Clark’s Ville, house Fire, @mcfrs PE704, A704, C704 responding

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Collision in Bethesda causes mail truck to spin out and end up on sidewalk on Old Georgetown Road and Beech Avenue.

Old Georgetown Road and Beech Avenue, Bethesda, collision, truck spun out & ended up on sidewalk

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Update – Old Georgetown Road & Beech Avenue, Bethesda, collision, USPS truck ended up on sidewalk & struck light pole, @MCFRS_EMIHS transporting 1 adult NLT https://t.co/AyWsvETSB1

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

House Struck by lightning on Split Oak Drive near Honey Bee Lane.

Update – Split Oak Dr., Bethesda, house struck by lightning, no active fire, house on occupied https://t.co/glSoRNqa2G

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Beltway collision between New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard.

OL I495 beltway between New Hampshire Ave. and University Boulevard, collision

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Tree down on Beach Drive near Franklin Street in Kensington (happened after 5:30 p.m.).

Beach Drive blocked near Franklin Street, Kensington pic.twitter.com/9UmmdhPwH8

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Power Outage Reports

Numerous reports of wires down tree branches on wires etc. in the Rockvilke, Kensington area, as well as Bethesda & Colesville area @MontgomeryCoMD Isolated power outages no major damage reported Other than a few road blocked here & there pic.twitter.com/UjWqEwk7AI

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Additional storm warning tweets by Piringer:

Update – Portions of @MontgomeryCoMD seeing severe weather – take precautions, take cover &!stay indoors … lots of thunder and lightning https://t.co/UVX8RPRFdD pic.twitter.com/J4u0qTMT6C

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

In front of @MontgomeryCoMD public safety headquarters in Gaithersburg storm rolling in & winds picking up pic.twitter.com/UDelK4BJKx

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2020

Related Post:

Southeastern Montgomery County Under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning