Photo: Did someone say "barbecue"? Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
Rule no. 1 when throwing a barbecue: Always invite the neighbors. Otherwise, they might mistake the mesquite-scented smoke wafting from your balcony as a sign of trouble.
That’s more or less what went down Wednesday evening at The Veridian apartments in South Silver Spring. Sometime before 6:20 p.m., county firefighters descended on the high rise along East-West Highway after a resident reported weirdness on a nearby balcony, a spokesperson for the MoCo Fire and Rescue Services confirmed via Twitter.
Exactly what kind of weirdness was reported is unknown. However, it was learned later that a tenant had been prepping dinner on an outdoor grill set on one of the building’s balconies, the @mcfrs tweeter indicated. It’s not known whether the flames and smoke were contained to the grill, or whether the cook had lost control of what was cooking.
MCFRS was emailed additional questions but did not respond before press time. However, the Twitter message said grilling on apartment balconies goes against county code.
At least four fire trucks — one with an extra-tall ladder for dealing with towering infernos — were parked around the building, and police cars blocked passage on East-West Highway between Georgia Avenue and Newell Street. Rush-hour traffic was forced to snake through Newell, Kennett then 13th Streets to get around the activity.
By 6:40 p.m., firefighters were stowing their hoses and gear and responding to another call. Water trickled into a storm drain along the curb, though whether that water came from a hydrant or snow melt is not clear.
Around the same time, a pair of pedestrians strolled the wide public plaza with their little, sweater-clad dog. They later retreated from the cold, clear, smokeless night into the building. Whether residents evacuated their apartments during the firefighting activity is unknown.
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I thought everyone knew grilling on balconies was verboten. It’s a big fine – $275 or so, I believe.
Sorry guys, I just wanted some hot dogs fresh off the grill.
Yes, grillings on balconies is illegal – for a reason! I hope the Veridian kicks this tenant to the curb! Furthermore, I hope MoCo public safety bills this jerk for response costs. East-West highway was blocked off around 6:30, saw several emergency vehicles.
What if a real emergency had a delayed response because so many assets were at this mess?
This is a hi-rise, any fire is really scary. OK, so the building has sprinklers — but if those had been set off, water/mold damage could have occurred. Throw the book at balcony grillers, rooftop grillers!
Can you be evicted on one violation?
Terry, the management should have made it abundantly clear when the person signed the lease that grilling is verboten.
I am familiar with an apt. complex a few miles up Ga. ave, where people roll grills out into grassy areas a few feet from the building and grill. That is a different matter. And bring the hot grill back to the patio can be an issue. Grillling is for people with significant yard space. It usually involves meat, and can put some nasty smoke into neighboring abodes — along with heat that can damage trees and threaten bird nests in them.
In any case, this story shows the importance of the Penguin. When I saw all those red flashing lights, road-closing flares, etc. last nite, I wondered what the heck was going on and whether we would ever find out. When the Penguin goes, we will be in the dark.
I agree. I was on my way home, it must have been just before they closed EW Highway, because I still got through, but saw the tons of trucks. The first thing I thought was, I hope this will be in the Penguin. Then I remembered the Penguin was leaving us. Then I was sad. But thank you for telling the story while you’re still here!
Darn. I thought you were talking about a new BBQ joint in south SS and I got all excited.
I am a resident of the Veridian, but I am not the offender. As a resident, I must say that the fire alarm situation is getting quite out of hand. There was also a breakfast-cooking-challenged couple on Sunday, who set off the fire alarm on the 8th floor. As such, the fire alarm sounded and all SS fire trucks responded while we were left to fend for ourselves (and our pets) in the bitter cold.
Wednesday, again, forced some of us to leave our apartments while East-West was blocked off for the other grilling offender. For one, it was made abundantly clear (to me) when I signed my lease that we were not to have open flames or grills on our balconies. For two, the rooftop (which Veridian mgt boasts about, but is not anything special) contained two gas grills that are open all year long; there is no need to grill off a balcony.
Unfortunately, as this post went to press prior to yesterday evening, the fire alarm again sounded this morning (1/8/10) at 3 am. While this was not a fire emergency (it turned out to be a burst pipe) we were AGAIN evacuated from our building in the freezing cold and snow while SS FD responded.
I gotta say, if ther Veridian doesn’t get their maintenance and their residents under control, the SSFD is just going to think we’re crying wolf every time it goes off!!
“There was also a breakfast-cooking-challenged couple on Sunday, who set off the fire alarm on the 8th floor. ”
Burned the toast, did they?
A few years ago, one of the residents in my building at Summit Hills accidentally set off the fire alarm (was coming in from the pool, slipped and hit or pulled it). He stood at the door and apologized to each of us as we had to leave the building. I was surprised and grateful that he did that.
Hey, Veridian Resident, I am surprised to hear about the gas grills on the roof. If they are properly designed, permitted, installed, maintained that is probably a good thing, and it certainly sounds rare.
I lived in a lovely old building in DC. The roof was there to keep the rain out. Some inDUHviduals insisted on calling it a roof deck, trekking propane canisters up there to grill. I lived in fear that the place would burn down around the ears of all of us humans and animals (there were many dogs & cats). I moved to SS in part for safety. Several months ago, a building a block from my DC old one burned down. I think they said the fire started on the roof, but from an electrical problem. Fire safety is no joke. Sure hope Veridian’s mgt and tenants are learning from all this, and getting their act together.
LuvMyHood, I believe it was bacon that was burned. But that was just a rumor. We do have permanently installed (and maintenance-managed) gas grills on our rooftop, and I used one a few weeks ago – to the Veridian’s credit, they actually have been well maintained. However, since I posted this morning, the fire alarm was AGAIN tripped and set off at 8:30 am (for no reason). Is there anyone here that can tell me if we can break out of a lease if the Landlord is the one disturbing the peace? I am in the most expensive floor plan and this isn’t exactly what I bargained for!
No grilling means malnutrition for many apt dwellers. I think if we’re worried about fire safety that Christmas trees should be banned in the complex. Bird’s nests would also benefit.
Hasn’t anybody been Chicago? — grilling on balconies is the norm there. I for one support getting my caveman eats on in my SS high rise pad.
Dude, can I borrow that recipe for deer ribs and organ meat pudding?