Silver Spring Apartment Fire: How To Help

(CNN) — Two people are dead and dozens more injured after an explosion sparked a massive fire that engulfed an apartment complex in Silver Spring, Maryland, officials said Thursday.

Visiting Piney Branch explosion site. Great work this morning by @mcfrs & @PGFDPIO crews – a sobering daylight site pic.twitter.com/LsCrwnHsDR

— Marc Bashoor (@PGFD_Chief) August 11, 2016

Several area organizations are offering ways to help those affected and displaced.

Reemberto Rodriguez, Director of the Silver Spring Regional Area offers this list:

MAIL (via check) FINANCIAL DONATION
Mail it to:
Montgomery Housing Partnership
(Attn: Long Branch Fire)
12200 Tech Road, Suite 250
Silver Spring, MD 20904
[*] Write LONG BRANCH FIRE in check memo

ON-LINE FINANCIAL DONATION
(Easiest – and preferred!)
[1] Go to: www.MHPartners.org
[2] Click on “Give Direct” (on right side of your screen)
[3] Input amount and credit card number
[*] Make sure you indicate LONG BRANCH FIRE in the ‘comment’ box:

GOODS
(Toiletries, canned/boxed food, clothing)
CASA Welcome Center
734 University Blvd East
(Off University Blvd, just south of Piney Branch)
We also encourage you to stay in contact with your networks (civic organizations, non-profits, and others) for further information and opportunities to help.

Please click HERE for more.

Thirty-one residents and three firefighters were transferred to local hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, officials said at the news conference.

The firefighters had minor injuries and were treated and released. About 90 people have been displaced by the blaze.

Officials say the building is a collapse hazard and they are trying to make the structure safe.

The fire at the four-story Flower Branch apartment complex happened shortly before midnight Wednesday night, officials said.

Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the inferno. When asked about reports of the smell of gas in the area before the explosion, officials said they are at the preliminary stages of investigation.

MoCo Police conducting standard ‘Death Investigation’ after Piney Branch Rd fire, 2 dead, 5 missing & unaccounted, pic.twitter.com/loSLwTJGPt

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) August 11, 2016