Firefighters sustain minor injuries in Greenbelt house fire

‘‘Firefighters found a two-story, wood basement home with heavy fire consuming the rear portion of the house on all floors,” Brady said. ‘‘The fire was burning so intently that there was some structural damage inside so as a precaution we knocked the fire down from the outside of the house.”

The house sustained approximately $600,000 in damages.

A Greenbelt police officer injured his ankle while assisting with the fire. One firefighter sustained a knee injury and was treated at an area hospital and released.

Another firefighter sustained minor internal inhalation and is expected to be released from an area hospital today, Brady said.

‘‘Fire investigators went to the scene and it appears the blaze started from a deck attached to rear of the house and the ignition point may have been the propane gas grill used that night for a family function,” Brady said.

The use of the grill is permissible, Brady said, but he advised that residents use the grills at least 10-15 feet away from the house or structure. Investigators believe that the grill was stationed up against the house, Brady said.

The fire was so intense that it ignited homes on either side, Brady said.

One home sustained $100,000 in damages while the other sustained $1,000, Brady said.

The fire was extinguished after an hour.