County Executive and Fire Chief Survey Fire Damage

On Sunday, County Executive Ike Leggett, Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard Bowers and other county representatives flew over the Darnestown-Germantown area devastated by to assess the damage.

The county released aerial photos of the damage from the fire that spanned about 400 acres in the county, Bowers said. This fire did not take any lives; however, several structures burned down including a clubhouse for a local Trap and Skeet club and a garage that was attached to a house — the house was not damaged. Several agriculture buildings were also destroyed. 

The response from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, as well as support from units in Washington, D.C., and Fredrick County, helped put out the fire and decrease damage, Leggett said.

“The collaboration among all area jurisdictions really was a testament to the leadership of our fire and rescue personnel and all that they’ve done in Montgomery County,” Leggett said.

Leggett spent about 25 minutes in the helicopter, surveying the effects of the brush fire.

“Looking at it from the air, as opposed to the ground, it is far more dramatic when you see how comprehensive the fire is," Leggett said. "You can't see it all just from looking at the ground.”

At the height of the fire, 300 emergency personnel responded to the scene. Leggett called their work "miraculous" and "terrific." 

"We were lucky and fortunate that it did not have more destruction of property," he said. "It was a very, very close call."