Family displaced after large house fire in Brookeville

BROOKEVILLE, Md. - One person was taken to the hospital and another person was treated at the scene after a large house fire in Brookeville, Montgomery County fire officials say.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer says 65 firefighters responded to a call for the blaze at around 5:50 p.m. Thursday at a large two-story home in the 100 block of Brinkwood Road near Haviland Mill Road.

A father and son were in the garage working on a vehicle when there was some sort of accident and flames broke out, which spread to the home. They were able to get themselves out of the house, but the father was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns. The mother was not home at the time of the fire.

However, a dog that lives in the home remains unaccounted for after it ran off. Neighbors say they believe the pet is a beagle mix.

This neighborhood is not equipped with fire hydrants so units from Howard County and other local jurisdictions were called in to help put out the fire.

"Water supply was not a problem," Piringer said. "We had tankers. We had a pond nearby so we were able to knock the fire down. Probably half the home has some fire damage. The rest is heat, smoke and water damage. Complete loss for the most part."

The estimated damage to the house is $500,000. The cause of the fire has been preliminarily ruled accidental, according to Piringer.

The family has been displaced from the house.