April 25--COLLEGE PARK, MD-- A five-alarm blaze that drew hundreds of firefighters to a construction site near the University of Maryland caused an estimated $39 million in damage - the most significant ever seen in Prince George's County, officials said.
WTOP reports that over 200 firefighters and medics responded to the Fuse 47 apartment building site at 4700 Berwyn House Road on Monday.
Flames were reported at about 9:30 a.m., acting county fire chief Benjamin Barksdale told WTOP. It was under control, with hot spots remaining, shortly before 3 p.m.
"As firefighters stretched hose lines and alerted construction workers to evacuate the building, the fire rapidly extended to the top floor and roof," said fire department spokesman Mark Brady.
Part of the roof collapsed, and US 1 between University Avenue and Paint Branch Parkway was closed for much of the day.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital after experiencing fatigue, and another emergency worker was treated on the scene for an injured ankle.
The scene remained very active early Tuesday with crews using a ladder truck to pour water on the upper section of the seven-story structure. The building was slated to have 250 apartments, retail stores and a parking garage and was scheduled for occupancy in July.
