Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Massive Brush Fire in Darnestown-Germantown 'Under Control'

Saturday's high winds fueled flames over 20 to 30 acres; public urged to practice safety in dry, windy conditions.

Update, Feb. 20, 10:15 a.m.: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Graham reports that units are working in the area of Clopper Lake today and will have a presence in the other geographical areas where crews worked Saturday, Feb. 19.

"Alot of the brush fire followed the power lines ... burnt anywhere from 20 to 30 acres," Graham said. "We're still assessing the actual acreage."

He said that units worked an extensive geographic area from Riffle Ford Road and MD-118 over to the 12000 block of Clopper Road on Saturday.

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Graham added that several structures were lost as a result of the fire, including a clubhouse for a local Trap and Skeet club and a garage that was attached to a house, however, the house was not damaged. Several agriculture buildings were also destroyed.

Check back later today for MCFRS aerial video footage and photos.  

Find out what's happening in North Potomac-Darnestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Update, Feb. 19, 11:50 p.m.: In a late update, Assistant Chief Scott Graham, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, said four to five homes were compromised, with most of the damage done to the exterior of the homes. A barn and trailer and some farm equipment were also damaged.

Crews will be rotated every three hours through the night, and multiple fire rescue units will remain on site to continue to mop up and ensure there are no additional flare-ups, he said.

In addition to help from Washington, D.C., and other fire and rescue personnel in Maryland, Graham noted the multi-jurisdictional assistance from Fairfax, Howard, Carroll, and Prince George's counties as well.

The cause of the fire has not yet determined.

Graham is asking the public to be mindful of the potential for fires in dry, windy conditions and to use caution when grilling and smoking outside. In fact, Graham asks that people refrain from these activities outside while extreme weather conditions persist.

Update, 10:30 p.m.: Today's brush fire impacted up to 18 acres, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Graham said.

Six units will be on duty throughout the night at the scene; crews will be rotated early Sunday morning, according to Graham.

"We're going to keep things rolling."

Graham reported that several firefighters and rescue personnel had sustained orthopedic strains and sprains, as well as minor burns.

The origin of the fire is not known at this time, he said.

Update, 5:21 p.m.: The brush fire in the Darnestown-Germantown area is under control, according to Assistant Chief Scott Graham, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

Graham said that units are currently being demobilized due to the containment of the fire.

Stay tuned to Patch for further updates.

Update, 2:48 p.m.: Riffle Ford Road and side roads from MD-28 to MD-118 will be shut down for at least two hours, according to Alert Montgomery.

Original Post, Feb. 19: Fire and rescue personnel from across Maryland and Washington, D.C., have converged on approximately 8 to 15 non-contiguous acres in the Germantown-Darnestown area to fight a brush fire, said Assistant Chief Scott Graham, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

"We have several fires in areas in that Germantown-Riffle Ford Road contiguous area. The fires are spotty around, but we've got a good handle on a majority of them." Graham said.

Throughout this campaign, approximately three to four houses have been comprised, mostly from the exterior, he added. "But those are under control and we have no house fires burning."

"We do have significant mutual aid from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. We have units from Frederick County Fire and Rescue and their wildland firefighting," Graham said.

Graham said that MCFRS has recalled several of its shifts and personnel, along with volunteers that are back filling county stations for normal call loads. Units from Washington, D.C.'s fire department are helping on the east end of the county, he said.

Montgomery County police have recalled some of its 3 p.m. shifts early to assist MCFRS with traffic should it need to do any evacuations, Graham noted.

No injuries have been reported.


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