Fire that tore through Chevy Chase church caused $11.5M in damage, authorities estimate

The fire that burned through a church in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Monday is estimated to have caused $11.5 million in damages.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer tweeted that damage to the structure was estimated to be $10 million. And there was $1.5 million worth inside.

Update (~1230p 11/20) The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, Western Av; Origin/Cause, under investigation, due to partial bldg collapse, fire investigators not able to safely enter bldg w/o further heavy equipment; Damage $10M structure/$1.5M contents; ~100 FFs responded https://t.co/KAWU2ZPViv pic.twitter.com/gaC710aniR

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 21, 2023

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Due to a partial building collapse, “fire investigators not able to safely enter” without “further heavy equipment,” Piringer said.

The fire broke out Monday afternoon.

Some firefighters were briefly trapped.

“They were rescued pretty quickly and were uninjured,” Charles Bailey, the nominee to be Montgomery County’s Fire chief, said during a news conference outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Western Avenue in Chevy Chase.

See photos below.

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