A man is dead, a family was displaced and a firefighter was hurt following a house fire in Germantown, Maryland, on Friday. The fire broke out at a home at 11400 Neelsville Church Rd., near Shakespeare Boulevard, around 10 a.m., according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. It said an 80-year-old patient died in the fire. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said the family of five has been displaced. In addition, two cats are missing.
Update – Neelsville Church Rd, Neelsville/Germantown East, house fire in 1st floor bedroom, 1 person trapped, located by firefighters & transported, fire is extinguished, @MCFRS_EMIHS transporting 1 adult Pri1 trauma w/ LT injuries pic.twitter.com/03cOWhKOja
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 19, 2024
The cause was apparently from a motorized hospital bed with a motor malfunction that overheated, according to fire investigators, who also said there were apparently no working smoke alarms. Damage is estimated to be around $100,000.