CLARKSBURG, Md. — Montgomery County Fire and Ems teams responded to a residential building fire at 12832 Clarksburg Square Road early Saturday morning.
Montgomery County Fire and Ems personnel indicated 24 apartments and 43 residents were affected.
Four residents were evaluated, two were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There were also four firefighters injured, with two taken to the hospital suffering from non-critical injuries.
A total of 78 firefighters were dispatched to the area, said the MoCo Fire and Ems spokesperson.
“It was just so bad. The smoke was so bad, it was black everywhere," said Lori Remmers, who lives in the apartment building across form the one that caught fire. "It was hard to breathe, actually.”
“My wife was the first 911 call," said Elton Addison, who rushed out of the building with his wife and six kids, but not before alerting neighbors.
“Even the kids were banging on doors," said Addison. "We were trying to do our best to get everyone out.”
Hours after the flames were extinguished, Addison is one of many wondering where he’ll stay tonight.
"Me and my kids are really just waiting to be sheltered somewhere right now," he said.
The Red Cross was on scene helping the many residents that were displaced, but Addison tells WUSA9 fire investigators say they won’t be able to get into their apartments for a month.
"We don’t know yet. They said they threw thirty gallons of water in there," said Addison. "Back to school in two weeks, all their school stuff is in there. It’s just a mess, but we’re still breathing so glory to God for that.”
This is a developing story and will be updated with more details when available.