Fire at Chevy Chase Cars dealership in Bethesda (Photos)

A small fire at a downtown Bethesda auto dealership drew a huge response from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Montgomery County Police tonight. And with good reason. Reports of smoke at Chevy Chase Cars after 10:00 PM required a major response, with all of the automobiles parked in and around the building, and a high-rise apartment building adjacent to the site.

A dense gathering of firefighters
near the dealer's Enterprise Rent-a-Car
office on Wisconsin Avenue

Two firefighters walk past the
dealership's garage on Wisconsin

A stretcher was set up here
for a prospective patient;
no injuries were ultimately
reported

Police cordoned off several blocks of northbound Wisconsin Avenue around the dealership, from north of Fairmont Avenue to Old Georgetown Road. A stretcher was ready for any potential patient to the left of the Bethesda Theatre.

After searching the premises, firefighters located a small fire within some leaves inside the paint room at the dealership, and quickly extinguished it. According to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer, the smoke from the fire was picked up by the ventilation system, and spread it throughout the building.

Police cars at Wisconsin Avenue
and Cheltenham Drive

The MCFRS command center on Wisconsin Avenue turned the buildings back over to their respective management around 11:15 PM.