Joelle Fredman
WMAL.com
While the exact cause of a Monday five-alarm fire in College Park is still unknown, fire investigators said it appears to be accidental.
The fire, which began on the fifth floor of an apartment building under construction near the University of Maryland campus, took over six hours to put out and caused more than $40 million in damages.
PGFD Video Update from scene 4700 Berwyn House Road in College Park pic.twitter.com/Fkqf4Ij89q
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 27, 2017
Prince George’s County Fire and EMS wrote the following in a blog post:
“The exact cause of the fire that occurred Monday, April 24, at 4700 Berwyn House Road in College Park remains under investigation. Preliminary findings by Fire Investigators indicate the cause appears to be accidental. The official cause and origin cannot be determined until after a hands-on investigation which could take days to weeks based on the structural integrity of the building.
Fire Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance by providing whatever video and still images you may have during the inital phases of the fire. The incident was dispatched at 9:35 am on Monday. If you have any images prior to the fire departments arrival or just after the fire departments arrival we are asking you to voluntarily submit your images.
If possible images can be emailed to PGFDPIO@co.pg.md.us or any other means you have of transmitting your images. If you cannot send via email, please send a note to same address with your name and phone number and we will contact you.”
Copyright 2017 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (photo: Prince George’s County Fire)
