Fire causes injuries, damage

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006

A faulty outlet caused fire to rip trough the second floor of a Temple Hills apartment complex Wednesday morning, injuring 10 people and causing others to jump to their safety, according to the Prince George’s County Fire Department.

At about 4 a.m., fire fighters were called to 3001 Branch Avenue to a high rise apartment building with more than 300 units. Fire was coming from the back of the building and several second floor residents were attempting to leave the building by jumping out of the windows, said Mark Brady, department spokesman.

It took 130 fire fighters about 20 minutes to put out the blaze. Ten people were taken to the hospital, including three fire fighters who were treated for burns. Seven residents of the building suffered respiratory problems such as asthma, and some were injured while jumping from the window. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.

Brady said residents from the second, third and fourth floors were asked to evacuate. Other residents of the building were asked to seek shelter inside their apartment units.

The faulty electrical outlet was in the bedroom of a second-floor apartment. About 32 families were displaced as a result of the fire, which caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, Brady said.