UPDATE
Fire to seven people are unaccounted for and more than 30 people, including 3 firefighters were injured after an explosion at an apartment complex in Montgomery County, Maryland.
As many as seven people are unaccounted for after an explosion sparked a massive fire at an apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland, fire officials say.
Firefighters at a station about a mile away felt the explosion at the Flower Branch Apartments just before midnight Wednesday, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said.
“People were dropping children and jumping out of other windows,” Goldstein said. “Everybody was getting out of the building as rapidly as possible.”
The early morning fire tore through the large apartment complex, consuming at least two or three buildings, and causing significant structural damage and part of a building to collapse.
The force of the explosion blew debris into a parking lot across the street from the complex.
EARLIER
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Latest tweets first:
@fox5dc pic.twitter.com/FhHaTs0JKW
— Christian Rivera (@lordrivz) August 11, 2016
Update – Piney Branch Rd, explosion & fire, 3-Alarm+ & MCI, >160 FF/EMS on scene, FFs made many rescues, multiple injuries, incl several FFs
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – Piney Branch Rd, natrl gas fed fire w/ electrical hazards as well, heavy fire & structural damage, FFs evacuating & exiting bldg
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
U/D – 8644/8701 Piney Branch Rd, 3rd Alarm apt fire, explosion & fire, numerous rescues & multiple civilian injuries pic.twitter.com/chaYX8jSMk
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
U/D Mutual Aid – numerous PGCo fire/EMS units assisting @MCFRSNews 86/8700blk Piney Branch Rd, natrl gas fed fire, also involves power lines
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – 8700blk Piney Branch Rd near Arliss St, EMS Task Force dispatched to assist w/ multiple patients, incl some burned (civilians)
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – 8700blk Piney Branch Rd, EMS evaluating multiple patients, FFs made numerous rescues, FFs engaged w/ firefight
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
MCFRS/PG working 3rd Alarm Apt Fire – 8600/8700blk Piney Branch Rd, apt fire, FFs making numerous rescues @mcfrsNews, rescues & firefight
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – Piney Branch Rd near Arliss St, apt fire, FFs report partial structure collapse, debris indicates possible explosion, many rescues
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – Piney Branch Rd, initial indications – possible explosion, FFs making rescues & others engaged w/ firefight
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
Update – 8600blk Piney Branch Rd, 3rd Alarm apt bldg fire, FFs making numerous rescues, heavy fire conditions, may involve several bldgs
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
3rd Alarm Apt Fire – 8600blk Piney Branch Rd, apt fire, FFs making numerous rescues,
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016
