MCFRS News Release

Update: Man Succumbs to Injuries After Fire

Cause of Silver Spring fire remains under investigation

Montgomery County, MD - - - A 63 year-old man who was severely burned in an apartment fire earlier today has died from his injuries at a local hospital. Officials have identified the man as Edward Mager of Silver Spring, Maryland.  

This morning at approximately 6:51 a.m. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched for the report of a building fire at 415 Silver Spring Avenue. First arriving units reported heavy fire and smoke conditions showing from the top floor of the Montgomery Towers apartment complex with reports of people trapped and several occupants waiting to be rescued from balconies on the top floor. Additional units were dispatched and over 100 firefighters were on the scene of the fire at the height of the incident.
 
Firefighters were able to successfully rescue several residents trapped by the fire including several dramatic rescues from a top floor balcony. Firefighters found Mr. Mager unconscious, outside his apartment in the hallway on the sixth floor, and transported him to a medical facility in critical condition. Several other occupants in the apartment complex were transported to local medical facilities for  treatment and evaluation. There are no updates on their conditions at this time.  

Investigators on the scene have determined that the fire originated inside an apartment on the top floor and caused an estimated $400,000 in damages. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This is the second fire fatality in the County this year.

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