Flames Rip Through Attic of Adelphi Road Home [Update]

Update 4:03 p.m.: Two Hyattsville residents have been displaced after fire ripped through their attic earlier this afternoon at 7108 Adelphi Rd.

Ronald James, who has lived at the house for almost 12 years, said that he was sitting on the couch in his living room when someone knocked on his door and told him that his roof was on fire. 

"Bless her heart," said James as investigators searched for the cause of the blaze. "She had already called 911 and then just took her car and got out of the way. My mind was racing at that point and I didn't even think to ask her name."

As of yet, James says he has no idea how the fire started, but he's glad there's not more damage. 

"It started in the attic and stayed in the attic," said James. 

Despite the localized nature of the fire, the house is temporarily uninhabitable. Rescuers had to chop through the roof and interior ceilings to extinguish the flames. Water dripped down into the house from the exposed attic following the blaze.

Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady said that the cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Update, 3:38 p.m.:

Adelphi Road has been reopened in the northbound direction, while the southbound lanes remain blocked by emergency vehicles.

The remaining fire crews are expected to leave the area in the next 15 to 20 minutes, according to responders.

Original article, 3:25 p.m.:

Flames ripped through the attic of a house at 7108 Adelphi Road Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency personnel on the scene said the fire was reported around 2:15 p.m.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 15 minutes after chopping through the roof of the residence and pouring water on the flames from above.

Two adults were said to have been home at the time.

Adelphi is blocked off in both directions between Calverton Drive and Wells Parkway, with emergency vehicles still parked in the roadway. The house is on the west, or Hyattsville, side of the road.

Patch will have more information as it becomes available.