Rockville rocked by earthquake overnight

A 2.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in Rockville overnight, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Maryland Geological Survey. The earthquake was recorded by MGS at 12:51 AM and four seconds, and was located 9.5 miles beneath the surface, the DNR reported. According to the MGS map, the epicenter of the earthquake was on the golf course of the Lakewood Country Club, and just south of Lakewood Elementary School.

No injuries have been reported so far, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer, but residents of Rockville reported feeling the ground shake, as did others in Montgomery County and even Northwest Washington, D.C. There haven't been reports of damage yet, but since many were asleep during the quake, we'll have to wait until properties can be inspected today.

The minor quake follows a significant one on the other side of the globe in Japan yesterday; with people watching footage of that earthquake around the world, tremors were already on the minds of many. But it was not as strong as the other quakes in the D.C. region since 2011.

Car crashes into Rockville apartment building

A driver left the roadway in the 700 block of Monroe Street in Rockville yesterday, December 31, 2023, crashing their vehicle into a tree and an apartment building. The accident occurred at 3:30 PM at the Parkside Landing apartments off of Cabin John Parkway. No one was injured, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer. 

A City of Rockville building inspector was notified to assess any structural damage to the apartment building. The cause of the accident has not yet been announced by authorities.

Fire at the Grand apartments in White Flint

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to a report of a fire at the Grand apartments at 5801 Nicholson Lane in the White Flint area last night just after 7:00 PM. The fire was located in a dumpster in the basement trash room of the 15-story high-rise. MCFRS Pete Piringer reported that the fire was extinguished without spreading any further. 

Smoke from the fire did rise to some of the floors above, and some residents required assistance from firefighters. But there were no injuries, Piringer said, and no residents have been displaced. However, a lingering odor of smoke shortly after midnight this morning led a resident to call 911. MCFRS personnel responded, but found no evidence of fire.

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announces he will retire

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announced this morning that he will retire after 31 years of service with the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. He has served as chief for 8 of those years. Goldstein's last day will be June 30, 2023. MCFRS has been considered one of the top fire departments in the nation under his leadership.

“Chief Goldstein has given this County so much since he first started with the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department in 1987,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement this morning. “We have leaned on his expertise and skills as a leader and watched the department grow under his leadership. Over the past few years, Chief Goldstein has worked with me and other County leaders to make this a smooth transition and I thank him for his service to the men and women of MCFRS and the people of this County.” 

Goldstein has accepted the Fire Chief position for Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue in Kelso, Washington and will begin serving in that post July 17. “It is my honor and pleasure to be part of this great department and to have the opportunity to serve as your fire chief,” Goldstein said in a statement.

Rockville Volunteer Fire Department welcomes new fire engine

The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department at 380 Hungerford Drive has acquired a new fire engine. A 2022 Seagrave truck costing nearly $1 million, the new vehicle was paid for with grant funds and generous donations from the community. It will be officially put into service at a ceremony open to the public at the firehouse on February 4, 2023 at 10:00 AM. 

The new firetruck will be dedicated in memory of past Fire Chief Scott Emmons. Other former RVFD vehicles now in private ownership will also be on display at the February 4 ceremony. 

Photo courtesy RVFD

Fire at Montgomery County dump in Rockville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service units responded to a fire at the Montgomery County Shady Grove Transfer Station at 16101 Frederick Road in Rockville at noon today. More than twelve units responded to the incident at the County's main refuse disposal site, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the fire was in a large trash compactor on the lower level of the facility. 

Heavy equipment, including front-end loaders, had to be brought in to fully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.

Rockville man dies after losing control of vehicle and crashing into house

A young Rockville man died Tuesday morning, after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a home in the West End neighborhood, Montgomery County police announced yesterday. Tyler James Lightcap, 23, was driving his 2014 Ford Mustang GT convertible westbound on Beall Avenue shortly before 6:30 AM on October 4, 2022. For yet-unknown reasons, detectives say, Lightcap lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a house in the 100 block of Upton Street.

Lightcap was pronounced dead at the scene. The Collision Reconstruction Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation of this accident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620. 

Rockville apartment fire displaces family

Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
personnel were among the first to respond 

A kitchen fire broke out in a second-floor unit at the Woodmont Park apartments at 1001 Rockville Pike in Rockville last night, around 10:30 PM. More than fifteen units from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to the blaze. One family was displaced by the fire, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Piringer said an "After the Fire" team will be touring the complex today to check smoke alarms, and provide fire safety tips to residents.

Car crashes into Tiger Sugar in Rockville

A driver crashed their vehicle into Tiger Sugar at 12266-E Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza last night. According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer, no injuries were reported, but he said the County will inspect the structure to determine the extent of the damage. However, a witness told The MoCo Show, when it first reported the crash last night, that the driver was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. 

A large board has been placed over the damaged area today. If you look closely, you'll notice a column at the curb in front of the shop was destroyed by the vehicle, as well. Tiger Sugar is temporarily closed due to the incident.

Several injured in Rockville collision on Maryland Avenue

A traffic accident in Rockville sent several people to local hospitals this afternoon. The collision occurred on Maryland Avenue near the intersection with W. Argyle Street at 5:45 PM, according to Rockville City police. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, RCPD said. Maryland Avenue was temporarily closed for rescue operations and accident investigation.

Photo courtesy RCPD

Pedestrian struck on Rockville Pike

A pedestrian was struck in Rockville at 10:55 AM this morning. The collision occurred at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Thompson Avenue, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer. There is no word on the condition of the victim at this time.

Image courtesy Google Maps

Rockville bus crash severely injures 3 (Video+Photos)

A Metrobus traveling on Rockville Pike suddenly veered onto Congressional Lane around 12:20 PM yesterday, stuck several vehicles, and came to rest on top of the front of a minivan at a building wall of a retail center. Six patients were evaluated by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue services, MCFRS Battalion Chief Steve Mann said. Three of those individuals suffered traumatic injuries, and a total of four were transported to local hospitals, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said later Sunday afternoon.

As evening approached, WMATA personnel and truck towing specialists were brought in to supervise the complicated task of extracting the minivan safely from under the Metrobus. The large tow truck assisted in a crane operation to hold the bus upright while a second towing crew pulled the minivan out. Night was falling as the Metrobus finally had all four wheels back on the pavement to be towed away. No official explanation for why the bus operator lost control has been released so far. 

Tow truck arrives to lift Metrobus

Extracting minivan from beneath bus

Metrobus lowered to pavement

Car crashes into building in Rockville

A vehicle has crashed into a building in Rockville. The vehicle collided with the building, located at 701 King Farm Boulevard, sometime before 7:45 AM, It is part of the Ingleside at King Farm property. No one was injured, and a building inspector is en route to survey the damage, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Steve Man said.

Photos via MCFRS/Steve Mann

Text-to-911 now available in Maryland

Callers in emergency situations who cannot, or do not wish to, speak on the phone now have a silent option. Text-to-911 service is now available in the state of Maryland. Residents and visitors alike can contact emergency services via text using the service.

To use Text-to-911 service, follow these steps:

1. Enter 911 in the “To” line.

2. Enter a brief message that includes the location of the emergency and type of service needed – police,              fire, or ambulance.

3. Hit send.

4. Respond to questions from the responding 911 specialist, and follow the instructions he or she provides.

Rockville arsons in same neighborhood under investigation

Shed destroyed by fire on
Grandin Avenue in Rockville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services investigators are examining what they say is a case of arson in East Rockville, the second reported in that immediate area since last Friday. City of Rockville police responded to a reported case of arson at a home early Friday morning, January 15, 2021. The arson was reported at a home in the 100 block of Coleman Park Lane around 4:21 AM, according to crime data.

Another view of Grandin Avenue
shed fire damage now being 
attributed to arson

Now, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer has announced that fire investigators are seeking public tips regarding a second arson only blocks away. The second fire was allegedly set in a shed in the backyard of a home in the 300 block of Grandin Avenue around 3:00 AM on Sunday. Anyone with information about that fire is asked to call the Arson Tipline at 240.777.2263, Piringer tweeted Sunday night.

Photos by Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Rockville speed camera lit on fire

A Montgomery County speed camera that issues tickets to drivers was vandalized and lit on fire on July 17, 2020, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said today. Anti-law-enforcement words were spray painted on the camera, the lenses were covered, and then the camera unit was lit ablaze.

The camera was located in the 400 block of Hurley Avenue, near Wootton Mill Park, in Rockville. Piringer asked that anyone with information related to this incident contact the MCFRS Arson Hotline at 240-777-2263.

Photo via Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Coronavirus patient surge at hospitals puts Montgomery County on Blue Alert

Critical care beds

"mostly full" at all

County hospitals tonight

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed by the Maryland Health Department has continued on an upward track recently. Tonight, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer confirmed that critical care beds at all county hospitals are "mostly full" this evening. This triggers a Blue Alert for MCFRS crews. County EMS supervisors are actively managing patient distribution countywide at this hour.

"All area hospitals are busy," Piringer said. As a result, patients may be transported to a hospital further away from their home until beds free up.

Montgomery County 911 system fails again

Officials don't know how

many emergency calls went

unanswered during outage

Montgomery County's 911 system failed twice Thursday, according to the Montgomery County Police Department, which does not operate the system. An MCPD spokesperson said that County officials cannot, as of now, tell them how many urgent 911 calls went unanswered during the service interruptions, but that the department is aware of one caller in need of basic life support medical services who was affected.

Callers who dialed 911 around 8:30 AM yesterday morning - and again between 9:35 and 9:43 AM - could not get through to the 911 call center, and instead heard a message saying they number they'd reached was out of service. According to MCPD, the failure was traced to a network outage between system components.

There is no indication that the Alert Montgomery system informed citizens of either outage. Montgomery County Government has yet to post any statement regarding the outages as of this writing.

It was exactly three years ago that I broke the story of a similar 911 system failure. Later, the County tried to cover up the fact that Alert Montgomery had failed to issue alerts to subscribers until long after the outage had ended. Two people were confirmed to have died has a result of that 2016 911 system failure, 

Yet despite their failure having fatal results for two of their constituents in 2016, the County Council has clearly failed to change its ways. Here we are again, with another 911 outage three years later. Similarly, the Council failed to upgrade the public safety radio communications system for County first responders for more than a decade, deliberately kicking the can down the road to have more play money to spend on their cartel sugar daddies.

In fact, since taking the oath of office last December, the latest Council has failed to take action on a single major crisis. Not a single thing has been done to exercise oversight and update the 911 system, complete our master plan highway system, turn around our moribund economy that now ranks last in the region by every economic development benchmark, nor to address rising rates of violent crime.

Most of the current Council term has been spent on a grotesque attack on the men and women of the Montgomery County police department. The Council's continual slander, defamation and disparagement of Montgomery's finest only put our first responders and the public in greater danger. Which fits perfectly with the County Council's record of making public safety a low priority, to the point that there are actual people who have died as a result of their failure to address basic government issues like providing a functioning 911 system. It's outrageous.

Tree falls on transformer and power lines in Rockville

Tree crashed into 100-year-old resident's
bedroom on E. Bexhill Drive

High winds got a quick start felling trees across Montgomery County overnight. Among the first to fall landed on a house in the 4200 block of Red Maple Court near Cedar Tree Drive in Burtonsville. No one was injured in that incident, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer.

One of the other early collapses was a tree at Baltimore Road and Gladstone Drive in Rockville. That one took out a Pepco transformer and power lines, causing a temporary road closure.

The very first tree to fall in the County was in Kensington, which landed on a house at 9912 E. Bexhill Drive. Tragically, there was not only significant damage to the home, but a 100-year-old resident was rushed to the hospital as a Priority 2 trauma patient. The victim was trapped in her crushed bedroom before being extricated by firefighters.

Photo by Pete Piringer

Firefighters respond to vacant American Tap Room in Rockville (Photos)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel entered the vacant American Tap Room in Rockville Town Square early last evening. They appeared to be searching the building, and inspecting the kitchen. There apparently was no fire, but it's unclear what brought the firefighters there. American Tap Rom closed about three weeks ago.