A tree crashed into a home on the 5100 block of West Cedar Lane in Bethesda during Monday's severe thunderstorms, igniting an electrical outlet fire in the basement and displacing two residents near the Potomac border.

The Aug. 10 incident was one of at least three emergency responses by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service as storms packing 60- to 70-mph wind gusts tore through the county during the afternoon commute.

MCFRS Assistant Chief David Pazos confirmed on X that crews were dispatched to the West Cedar Lane home at approximately 4:25 p.m. They found the fire contained to a basement outlet after the tree struck the house. Power was de-energized at the scene, and a family of two adults evacuated safely, sheltering in their vehicle. No injuries were reported.

The 5100 block of West Cedar Lane sits in northern Bethesda's Maplewood-Alta Vista neighborhood, close to I-495 and the Potomac community line.

Rockville man self-rescues after tree collapse

About five minutes earlier, at roughly 4:20 p.m., a tree fell onto the front porch of a home on Maxim Lane in Rockville, trapping a resident. By the time MCFRS crews arrived, the man had freed himself. He was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Bethesda Magazine. The home's other residents were not displaced.

Workers escape scaffolding nine stories up

The storm's most dramatic rescue unfolded at the Washingtonian Towers, 9701 Fields Road in Gaithersburg. At about 4:12 p.m., scaffolding became unsecured in the high winds while two construction workers were on it near the building's ninth floor. Video posted by Pazos shows the workers clinging to the scaffolding as gusts slammed them against the building.

Both workers escaped by breaking through an apartment window. "They declined transport and were not injured but shaken up after flying around 9 stories on a unsecured scaffolding," Pazos told Patch.

Downed lines, more storms possible

Multiple power lines came down in the Rockville area around 5 p.m. Monday. MCFRS urged residents to treat all downed lines as live and to contact their utility company to report them.

Pazos also asked residents to call Montgomery County 311 to report any tree blocking a roadway.

The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch through 9 p.m. Monday for much of Maryland, including Montgomery County, warning of damaging winds, lightning, hail and the possibility of a tornado. Additional showers and thunderstorms were forecast through the week, with the highest chances Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Residents who encounter storm damage or downed trees blocking roads can reach Montgomery County 311 by dialing 3-1-1.