DARNESTOWN, Md. — A woman has died at the hospital after being rescued from a house fire just outside Darnestown, Maryland, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service reported Monday morning.
The fire happened in the 15001 block of Darnestown Road and firefighters got to the scene around 7:30 p.m. Officials said a passerby called 911. Before fire crews arrived at the scene, neighbors tried to rescue the occupants inside the home and formed a ‘bucket brigade’, but were unable to enter.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and were able to get the woman out of the house, along with six dogs.
Two of the six dogs rescued died from injuries and the one person rescued was taken to the hospital, where she later died, firefighters said.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Pete Piringer said the home did not have smoke detectors and a passerby saw the fire and called 911.
The woman who died has not been identified.
The four dogs that survived were helped by the county's animal services division.
Fire officials said the house was very cluttered which made their job harder in putting it out. There were also mo smoke alarms in the home.
Firefighters did have to bring a water tanker to the scene of the fire because that part of Montgomery County is a non-hydrant area.
Firefighters say the initial cause of the fire was electrical in nature, but a specific cause is still under investigation.
The fire caused an estimated $85,000 in damage.
WUSA9 will continue to provide updates on this story as more information comes into our newsroom.