3 of 5 overnight fires in Montgomery County, ruled arson
GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Three of five overnight Thursday fires in Montgomery County, are now being ruled as arson.
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Authorities said the back-to-back but separate fires happened within the same area and caused damage to several businesses, a car and two homes.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Pete Piringer said, at least five fires were reported in the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village areas during the early morning hours.
They've determined that the following locations were caused by arson:
- Eye Center, Montgomery Village Avenue
- Galanis Center, E. Diamond Avenue
- Vehicle fire on Watkins Station Circle (Near Firebirds Wood Fire Grill)
A garage fire at one home in the 10000 block of Dellcastle Road is being investigated.
The homeowner told FOX 5’s Ayesha Khan that he has lived in the house for 50 years.
He said he was fast asleep at 1:30 a.m when a fireman shook him awake telling him to get out because his house is on fire.
At the same time, fire crews were busy putting out a fire at a row townhouse on Divot Road, just off of Watkins Mill Road, where a shed and a fence had caught fire. That one also remains under investigation.
"Just keeping your eyes out and fortunately we all live in a community where we all watch each other’s houses," said a woman passing by the burnt garage on Dellcastle Road.
"It’s a little scary when you live alone and something like that happens," said another neighbor.
No injuries were reported. It’s unclear if the fires are connected.
"Nothing has been ruled out at this point whether it’s one person or a group of people but investigators are working with local law enforcement to sort all that out," said Piringer.
Anyone with information is asked to contact fire investigators at 240-777-2263.