Blaze Displaces Maryland Families

Montgomery County fire investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that has displaced four families in Silver Spring, Md. Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said the blaze broke out just after 3:30 a.m. at the Rosemary Village apartments in the 1900 block of East West Highway. Arriving crews found heavy smoke on the first and second floors of several units. Initial reports are that the fire seems to have started in the kitchen of a terrace-level apartment, but Piringer said investigators don't know exactly how it started. No one was home in the unit where the fire started, Piringer said, and working smoke and fire alarms alerted the rest of the occupants to the fire. Piringer said firefighters did have to assist several occupants out of the building. Twelve units had to be evacuated, but no injuries were reported. Montgomery County police said they arrested a person on unrelated charges, and Piringer said fire investigators consider him a person of interest. Accelerant-sniffing dogs have been brought to the scene to aid in the investigation. Arson investigators are trying to find out if the fire was deliberately set. The fire caused about $200,000 in damage. Stay with News4 and nbc4.com for more information.