House fire on Whittier Boulevard in Bethesda

A house under construction in the 7000 block of Whittier Boulevard near Clearwood Road is on fire, according to radio communications. The fire is described as heavy, and as coming from the roof. It was reported at 12:47 AM. Firefighters have been warned that roof trusses on the structure are in danger of collapse, and are being advised to stand back at least 40 feet.

This story will be updated as necessary.

Bethesda tunnel house fire victim's Facebook appears to hint at excavation (Photo)

Montgomery County police have identified the deceased victim in a bizarre September 10 house fire on Danbury Road in Bethesda as 21-year-old Askia Khafra. Khafra was a resident of Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring, so it is currently unknown what he was doing at the home. The man believed to be the owner of the house survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators continue to work the scene, where mysterious excavations and possible tunneling had been done, and explosives teams have been seen searching the property. Detectives have not yet characterized the nature of those excavations, and their purpose is also unknown.

However, a photo on a Facebook page appearing to be the victim's hints at some type of excavation. The photo, which is also set as the page's profile photo, shows an unidentified person wearing a respirator, hearing protection, and a hard hat who appears to be several feet below ground. A caption on the August 25 photo posting reads, "Undaneef deez skreetz."

Fox 5 reported on Thursday that it has learned Khafra was hired this summer to work on the excavation by the home's owner. The station's report characterizes the excavation as including tunnels and a "bunker." Reporter Paul Wagner also was able to obtain additional photos within the tunnels and bunker, including one in which he reports Khafra was wearing construction gear similar to that in the above Facebook photo.

Image via Facebook

HOUSE FIRE IN BETHESDA

Montgomery County firefighters responded to a house fire in the 5700 block of Cromwell Drive, in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda early this morning. Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 1:00 AM, after smoke filled the 2-story home near Woodacres Elementary School. According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, firefighters located and extinguished a small fire in the basement laundry room.

All occupants were safely evacuated before fire personnel arrived on scene, Piringer said. Firefighters had some concern that fire was still burning inside the walls, after hot spots were detected in first floor walls near a fireplace.

Fire officials are investigating to determine the cause.