Investigators are examining a heat lamp near a backyard chicken coop as a likely cause after flames spread quickly before dawn.
SPENCERVILLE, Md. — An early Sunday fire gutted a two-story house on Phillips Oaks Drive and forced a defensive attack after parts of the structure gave way, Montgomery County officials said. The lone resident escaped unharmed as more than 50 firefighters converged on the cul-de-sac shortly after 12:40 a.m.
The alarm prompted a multi-unit response during a cold, quiet stretch before sunrise. Crews arrived to heavy fire pushing from the back of the house and moving up from a rear deck into upper floors. Investigators said the fire started outside, near a chicken coop under the deck, and that a heat lamp was likely involved. Command shifted operations to the exterior as collapse hazards grew. By morning, charred framing, broken windows and soaked debris marked the property as investigators and insurance representatives began their assessments. Officials placed a preliminary damage estimate at about $1 million and said the cause remains under review.
Dispatchers received the first alert around 12:40 a.m. from an automatic alarm system, officials said. Within minutes, arriving companies encountered flames involving multiple sides of the home and requested additional engines, trucks and a tower ladder. Neighbors stepped outside as the sky lit orange. “She got out, got into her car and went to a neighbor’s house and called 911,” Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said, describing the resident’s escape. Neighbor Tai Ngo said he ran to knock on doors while crews advanced lines and set up ladders. After structural components failed, incident commanders expanded the collapse zone and directed water streams from above.
Officials said the origin was beneath the rear deck where a small coop stood with a heat source in use. That area showed deep charring and fallen timbers by daybreak. The lamp is considered the likely ignition source, pending final findings. Firefighters working from exterior positions used tower ladder pipes to flow water into the attic and interior spaces. A small smoldering fire in the garage was doused later in the morning. Utilities to the structure were secured. No pets were reported missing, and there were no injuries among responders. The homeowner was the only person inside when the fire began, officials said.
The Phillips Oaks Drive subdivision sits off Spencerville Road and backs to wood lines that can channel wind. Overnight temperatures had dipped, and residents said they had noticed more heat sources in use across patios and sheds during recent cold nights. The home that burned is similar in size and layout to others on the street, with a rear deck and stairs to a small backyard. Neighbors who gathered at the scene said they had seen the homeowner tending to chickens in warmer months and believed the heat lamp was added for the recent cold spell.
Investigators photographed the coop area, collected wiring fragments and examined extension cords found under the deck. The inquiry will determine whether the device, its placement or surrounding materials allowed flame spread to the wall. Once the cause is classified, officials said they will complete a report and coordinate with the insurer and county permitting officials. No citations were announced. Crews remained on scene through the morning to watch for hot spots and to assist investigators with access and overhaul.
As dawn broke, the street smelled of smoke and water steamed off the driveway. “It was just a wall of fire,” Ngo said, recalling the moment he stepped outside. Another neighbor described firefighters rotating at the hose lines while ladder pipes arced water into the upper story. By midmorning, yellow tape encircled the property and a light haze lingered over the cul-de-sac while neighbors checked in on the displaced resident.
Officials said additional information on the cause could come after debris removal and interviews are completed this week. As of Sunday evening, the home was secured and the investigation remained active.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.