Crime & Safety
Cause of Vantage Court Fire Remains Unknown
The scene of January's fire at a house located on Vantage Court in Potomac is too dangerous for investigators to enter.
The cause of is still unknown.
Damage to the home caused by a January fire has made it difficult for investigations to proceed, though the fire was preliminarily determined to be accidental, according to Cpt. Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
The county is currently working with the victim's insurance agency to hire a private company to move and stabilize the building.
"It's unsafe for investigators to investigate," Garcia said. "We have to work with insurance companies to provide equipment to help stabilize the building."
The homeowner’s mother was home when the fire broke out and was able to safely evacuate, according to ABC7 reports. When fire services arrived at the scene the fire was so intense that at points firefighters were unable to enter the home and had to resort to a defensive position to keep the fire from spreading. A language barrier may have caused a 20-minute delay in reporting the fire, said Assistant Chief Scott Graham of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.
The fire displaced two adults and one child, according to Graham.
Damage to the Vantage Court home is estimated at $750,000.
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