1 dead, family homeless, firefighter injured in fire in Germantown

Courtesy of X/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

Courtesy of X/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

Courtesy of X/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

Courtesy of X/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

A house fire in Germantown, Maryland on Friday left one man dead, a family homeless and a firefighter injured.

According to Montgomery County Fire and Emergency Services, the fire broke out around 10 a.m. at a home located at 11400 Neelsville Church Road, near Shakespeare Boulevard.

It was said that an 80-year-old patient died in the fire.

The Montgomery County Fire Department said the family of five is homeless and two cats are also missing.

Update – Neelsville Church Rd, Neelsville/Germantown East, house fire in 1st floor bedroom, 1 person trapped, found and transported by firefighters, fire extinguished, @MCFRS_EMIHS Transport of an adult with Pri1 trauma and LT injuries pic.twitter.com/03cOWhKOja

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 19, 2024

According to fire investigators, the cause was apparently a motorized hospital bed with a defective motor that overheated. In addition, there were apparently no functioning smoke detectors.

The damage is estimated at around $100,000.

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