Upper Marlboro Condo Fire

Just after 2:00 AM, Monday, March 22, 2004, units from the Upper Marlboro area were dispatched to a report of a condominium building on fire.  Fire/EMS units were dispatched to 13800 Fawnsforth Lane in the Highland Gate complex for a fire in a five-story wood frame building.  Fifty firefighters and paramedics worked for 30 minutes to bring this fire under control.  The fire appears to have started on an exterior balcony and extended up into the attic area.  The majority of the fire was initially on the outside of the building and bypassed the buildings sprinkler system.  While the building sustained fire damage to the exterior and attic areas, additional damage to the interior units was caused by copious amounts of water from broken waterlines.  The Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management is on the scene assisting the estimated fifty residents that will be displaced.  There have been no reports of injuries.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and the preliminary damage estimate is $250,000.