Gables Upper Rock Apts under construction @mcfrs panorama of the 3-alarm pic.twitter.com/2RpjWxageP
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014Gables Upper Rock Apts 3-Alarm fire, bldg under construction, no inj, unoccupied bldg pic.twitter.com/EleoWRhsZE
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014415a @mcfrs FFs arrive 40 Upper Rock Cir, 4 sty residential, under construction, heavy fire requested addl FFs pic.twitter.com/Xo815ho1Kv
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014600a @mcfrs Gables Upper Rock Apts fire under control,significant damage, 3Alarm, 200 FFs on scene, 13 eng, 6Tks, 2Sq pic.twitter.com/fuUXrgLMe8
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014@mcfrs Crews working on 'hot spots' expect to be on site for extended period, addl crews reporting to scene pic.twitter.com/1Murcm2O7h
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014@mcfrs Chief Steve Lohr discuss strategy going forward with Gables Management & construction management pic.twitter.com/UC4s4ac1ut
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014Gable Upper Rock Apt Neighboring residents in adjacent bldgs sheltered in place, some hoses block parking lot egress pic.twitter.com/Erq2ywbNBI
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014
WASHINGTON — A massive fire gutted an apartment building in a dense area of Rockville Tuesday morning.
A large three-alarm fire broke out at Gables Upper Rock Apartments, located at 70 Upper Rock Circle in Rockville at about 4:15 a.m. The fire closed Shady Grove Road between I-270 and Md. 355 for several hours.
The road reopened in both directions by 10:15 a.m.
The apartment building is under construction, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer. The 150-unit apartment building was nearly complete, but no one was living there yet.
Crews controlled the fire by about 6:45 a.m. and no injuries have been reported, Piringer says. Some flames and smoke were visible from nearby I-270 for most of the Tuesday morning commute.
Piringer says when firefighters arrived at the apartment building early Tuesday, they found heavy fire coming from the upper floors of the four-to-five story building. About 200 firefighters responded to the fire, Piringer says.
The fire’s cause is not yet known. Investigators are on the scene.
Fire crews were able to protect many nearby buildings from damage in the dense area, Piringer says.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, located next to the apartment building, is closed Tuesday because of the blaze.
The cost of damage caused by the fire is not yet clear, but Piringer calls it “extensive.”
Gables Upper Rock Apts 3-Alarm fire, bldg under construction, no inj, unoccupied bldg pic.twitter.com/EleoWRhsZE
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 1, 2014
photo: MASSIVE fire ripping through apartment complex off Shady Grove Rd in #Rockville #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/sAwczlWEuv
— Brad Freitas (@NewsChopperBrad) April 1, 2014
Massive fire at a building under construction near 270. A lot of smoke and tall flames. #wtop pic.twitter.com/CMswJytkQE
— Nick Iannelli (@NickWTOP) April 1, 2014
Watch videos of the flames and the scene below:
The Associated Press contribute to this report.
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