Kensington fire causes $2 million in damages

In the early morning on Tuesday, April 2, a fire raged through the Waterford Condominium in Kensington, Maryland. The fire, which started on the ninth floor of the complex at around 5:15 a.m., is estimated to have caused around $2 million in damages and displaced multiple residents. More than 100 firefighters arrived on site and were able to extinguish the bulk of the fire by 7 a.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation; however, all residents were removed from the building safely. The American Red Cross also assisted displaced residents and firefighters deal with the fire’s aftermath.

The woman living in the condo where the fire originated was able to quickly run into one of the building’s main hallways and set off the building’s fire alarm to alert other residents. She was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor smoke inhalation. Another resident and a firefighter were also taken to the hospital to be treated for minor health concerns.

The front of the 12-floor, 150-unit complex lacked visible damage. However, the condos near the fire’s original location were majorly affected. Because the building was built in the mid-1960s, there was also few to none sprinklers throughout the property, which increased the fire’s damage to the condos.

The damage included about $1 million of the building’s contents and an additional $1 million to the structural integrity of 15 condos. Fourteen of the 15 apartments were damaged mainly due to smoke and water damage, and the one condo where the fire originated was damaged mostly by the fire.

Parts of the roads around the building, like University Boulevard between Viers Mill Road and Connecticut Avenue, were closed throughout rush hour.

Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire Department, stated in a tweet how the fire was likely caused by a candle or electrical issue in a bedroom. The apartment, which had a large amount of clutter, caught fire easily.

Later on April 2, residents from the sixth floor and below were allowed to return to their units. Firefighters then returned to the building Tuesday evening for their “After-the-Fire” check up. During this time they checked smoke alarms and went over fire safety with the building’s residents.

Article by MoCo Student staff writer Katherine Mahoney of Sherwood High School.