5 Adults, 3 Dogs Displaced After MoCo House Fire Causes Over $12M In Damages

GERMANTOWN, MD — A costly fire that broke out inside a Germantown home over the weekend displaced five adults and three dogs, authorities said.

Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, said the blaze erupted Saturday at a home on the 14600 block of Seneca Farm Lane and caused more than $12 million in damage.

Of the damage estimate, investigators determined the house accounted for just $1.65 million, as the bulk of the loss came from household contents.

Piringer said officials estimated the home held about $3 million in designer boots and another $8 million in designer clothing.

Authorities say the fire originated from the rear patio under the elevated deck, and that multiple potential ignition sources were identified.

Photos from the scene showed the fire quickly spread to the home's attic and roof, ultimately causing its collapse onto the upper floors.

Over 65 firefighters had responded to the single family home, with officials having to shuttle in water from tankers as the area had no fire hydrants.

Only one person was home when the fire broke out. Officials said they were removed from the scene by a neighbor.

No injuries were reported at the scene.

An official cause for the fire remains under investigation.