Fire rips through Montgomery County apartment building

A raging fire caused heavy damage late Tuesday to a garden apartment building in the Aspen Hill area of Montgomery County.

The fire broke out about 8:20 p.m. in a three-story building in the 14200 block of Georgia Avenue, said Capt. Oscar Garcia, a fire department spokesman. Everyone had already evacuated the building when firefighters arrived.

Garcia said the fire spread from the third floor of the building into the attic and roof. Fourteen apartments were significantly damaged from fire, smoke and water, and utilities were temporarily shut off at two adjacent buildings while inspectors tested whether they were in safe working order.

One resident of the apartment building was taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. Those injuries were not considered serious, Garcia said. A number of families were displaced.

Garcia said a preliminary investigation showed that the fire appeared to be accidental in nature, started on the 3rd floor and caused an estimated $1,250,000 in damages.