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A fire left a family of seven homeless and destroyed a Germantown townhouse Tuesday. Two visitors were also in the house at the time.

Capt. Oscar Garcia, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, said five people were taken to hospitals — two after jumping from a second floor window and three others for smoke inhalation.

"We believe the fire started in the kitchen of the home," Garcia said. "We believe they tried to fight the fire with water which delayed them calling the fire department."

Firefighters were called to the home at 13311 Woodruff Court at about 7:40 a.m., Garcia said. When firefighters arrived, flames could be seen coming from the first and second floors, he said.

A female occupant told firefighters everyone made it out of the home, Garcia said. One of the family's two dogs and a cat were not accounted for, Garcia said.

More than 75 firefighters battled the two-alarm fire for about 10 minutes, Garcia said. Garcia said the fire is still under investigation and fire officials don't have a financial estimate on the damages.

Administrators at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School were notified as news about the fire spread throughout the community.

Principal Marc Cohen said one of the children who lived at the home was a sixth- grader at King. Cohen said the school will do what it can to help the family. PTSA President Angela Lefevre said her group will also help.

"We have a case worker who is getting sizes of clothes for the family so we can try to get them some clothes," Cohen said. "We'll never be able to replace everything, but we can do what we can to help this family get back on their feet."

Cohen said he and his staff are working on setting up an account for people to make donations to help the family. For more information, contact Cohen at 301-353-8080 or Marc_J_Cohen@mcpsmd.org.