Initial Report: Aspen Hill House Fire Started with Food Dehydrator

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's initial report on a fire that shows the cause was a food dehydrator that caught on fire in the attached garage. The fire department is looking into whether there was a recall or other alerts on the dehydrator.

According to Mary Beth Nessault at MCFRS, a delay in the time it took to call 9-1-1 may have increased the damage.

Firefighters responded to a call at 8:30 a.m. on May 9, and put out the fire within 25 minutes.

The damage to the home was too great, and the department is considering it a "total loss." There was also minor damage to the the siding of the adjacent houses.

All seven occupants of the house were unharmed, but have been displaced. The Red Cross also responded to the scene to assist.