SILVER SPRING, Md. — One woman is dead, another person is in critical condition and at least 15 people have been hospitalized after an early morning 3-alarm fire at a high rise apartment building in the heart of Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
Officials claim the fire caused an estimated $2 million in damages. Two dogs and one cat were also pronounced dead as a result of the flames at the Arrive Apartments.
More than 400 residents are currently displaced due to the fire.
Crews responded to the Arrive Silver Spring Apartments, located at 8750 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, around 6 a.m. Initial calls reported smoke and fire on the seventh floor of the 14-story building.
Firefighters on the scene evacuated the building, but numerous people were reported trapped, according to Pete Piringer, public information officer for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services. Several people were being treated for smoke inhalation as well, according to Piringer.
In a press conference Saturday morning, Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said three firefighters also suffered minor injuries in the rush to evacuate residents through life-threatening smoke.
Gianna Gronowski was one of the residents trapped on their balcony. They shared photos of their rescue on their Twitter page.
Gronowski said they were safe and out of the building by 7:30 a.m. Evacuees from Gronowski's apartment included a dog, two cats and a gecko.
Crews called a second alarm, and then a third alarm to get more firefighters on the scene to battle the blaze and rescue people trapped on balconies. According to Goldstein, the Arrive Apartments are made up of two connected buildings with roughly 1,200 to 1,300 people living there. Goldstein said the buildings had sprinkler systems, but those sprinkler systems were limited to stairwells and other mechanical areas. There were no sprinklers in the units, or hallways.
Goldstein said the fire was contained to one apartment and did not spread.
About 100 to 150 firefighters were fighting the fire Saturday morning, Goldstein said.
The fire was brought under control by 7:45 a.m. Witness video shows flames coming from a window and a loud boom.
Deadly Silver Spring apartment fire
Goldstein said there was no indication the fire was caused by the explosion. Goldstein said he believes the explosion heard in the video was caused by aerosol cans inside the apartment. The cause of the fire is remains under investigation.
Many residents, some barefoot and still wearing pajamas were taking shelter in the immediate aftermath of the fire in the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel, directly across from the apartment building.
Montgomery County Health and Human Services workers are responding to assist displaced residents along with the Red Cross, according to Piringer. Goldstein.
Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center is being used for those who need overnight shelter.
This is a developing story. We are working to gather additional details. Stay with WUSA9 for the latest updates as they come in to our newsroom.