A Gaithersburg neighborhood was rocked by an explosion and heavy fire at an apartment building around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday.
About 100 firefighters responded to several 911 calls and were on the scene at the 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard near Rabbiit Road and close to Brown Station Elementary School.
As of 10:30 am, there were 12 injured people reported. 10 people were transported to hospitals including two whose injuries are considered “serious” according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer. Two people declined being transported and were being treated on the scene. There have been no fatalities reported.
Neither of the seriously injured people are children according to Scott Goldstein, Montgomery County Fire Chief.
Of the eight people who received “mild to moderate” injuries, four are adults and four are children according to Goldstein.
There are several people who are unaccounted for as of 10:30 a.m. Goldstein said.
As of around 9:45 a.m., the main fire was under control but fire crews are still dealing with a “gas-fed fire” in the basement of the collapsed building.
Update: Early dismissal of all students from Brown Station Elementary will begin at 12:30 p.m. Parents are asked to pick up their children at Robertson Youth Center, 801 Rabbitt Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
Parents must have their IDs for reunification with their children. All afternoon programs such as the Preschool Education Program (PEP) and PreK classes as well as other activities are canceled. School staff will be onsite to help with this process.
MyMCM was on the scene.
Building fire and explosion. @mymcmedia at the scene. Quince Orchard. pic.twitter.com/wWAa5X8vX9
— Andrea Sarralde (@asarralde) November 16, 2022
Partial building collapsed. Fire and explosion in front of Brown Station Elementary. @mymcmedia @PIOPete pic.twitter.com/c5ci8qwueQ
— Andrea Sarralde (@asarralde) November 16, 2022
Fire has been controlled. @mcpnews @mcfrs at the scene. Fire and explosion at 800 Quince Orchard apartments. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/I0EowpXeb2
— Andrea Sarralde (@asarralde) November 16, 2022
Update – Quince Orchard Boulevard, building explosion and fire https://t.co/BFUjQlc6Di pic.twitter.com/nqPnwkGMWi
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 16, 2022
The story will be updated as more information comes in.
