Fire rips through 3-story apartment building in Rockville

ROCKVILLE, Md. - A three-alarm fire broke out an apartment building in Rockville on Friday.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services said the fire sparked at the Fireside Park Apartments located in the 700 block of Monroe Street at about 1:30 p.m.

Flames were visible from the second and third floor of the apartments when crews arrived at the scene.

"The wind was such that it caught the roof on fire and it spread from one building to another," Pete Piringer, chief spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services explained.

Officials said residents were evacuated from the structures.

"He said, 'There's a fire, everybody has to get out there's smoke' and I grabbed my belongings and ran for the door," resident Eugene Christie McVeigh recalled. "I put on my shoes, grabbed my stuff and, I live on the top floor, so I made my way down and banged on everyone's door."

Damage to the roofs of multiple buildings was visible as more than 125 firefighters battled the blaze. One firefighter was injured, officials said.

According to officials, three buildings suffered about $2 million in damage as the fire was driven by wind conditions and spread to a common attic. Thirty units were impacted and around 60 people were displaced, authorities stated.

Fire officials said the fire started on the balcony of one of the units. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.