FREDERICK, Md. — Thanks in part to the quick work of members of a recycling crew, no one was injured in a massive fire that destroyed a Frederick townhouse complex Friday.
Frederick County Fire and Rescue units responded to reports of a fire at a multi-family dwelling on Carrollton Drive at about 8:54 a.m., fire officials said. At the scene, firefighters encountered a row of town homes with a fire burning across the roof of all four structures.
Frederick County recycling crew members, as well as Frederick County Code Enforcement and Frederick County Police, were in the area and were able to knock on doors and alert and assist all residents in the evacuation of the building. No residents were injured, and two birds that lived in the building were also saved.
“They were heroic during an active fire,” Michele Bowman, the Public Information Coordinator for the Frederick Police, said of the recycling crew members who were in the area on their usual route.
The fire quickly spread to all seven townhomes, fire officials said, causing a partial collapse of the second story end unit. Additional manpower was requested with the calling of a third alarm, and BG&E was asked to respond to to secure utilities. The Red Cross also responded to assist displaced residents.
In total, about 75 firefighters battled the flames for about two hours before the fire was under control. Crews remained on the scene to assist in clean up and overhaul, fire officials said. Three members of the fire department were taken to local hospitals for evaluation of exhaustion.
All seven homes that made up the complex are considered a total loss. Investigators are on the scene to determine cause and assess total damage estimates.
