Fire destroys police cruiser with ammo inside and ‘heavily damages’ home in Damascus, Md.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/fire-destroys-police-cruiser-with-ammo-inside-and-heavily-damages-home-in-damascus-md/2017/07/14/846da58e-687e-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html

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A Damascus, Md., home and a nearby police cruiser went up in flames early Friday, touching off blasts from ammunition inside the vehicle, authorities said.

Two people inside the home were taken to a hospital after suffering smoke inhalation. It was not immediately known if one of those people was a police officer.

The incident happened just before 3 a.m. in the 26600 block of Haney Avenue, according to Montgomery County Fire officials.

Fire officials said they received a call for a report of a house on fire. Fire crews found a single-story ranch style home “heavily involved in fire,” said a Montgomery County Fire Department spokesman.

The nearby police cruiser, parked near the house, also was ablaze.

Officials learned there was ammunition inside the cruiser and there were reports that explosions were heard coming from inside of the vehicle. Fire officials said they believe the ammunition was being “affected by the fire.”

The vehicle was completely damaged and the damage to the home is described as heavy, according to firefighter officials.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.