Fire investigators said two people died in the fire on the 11th floor of an apartment building at 1220 East-West Highway.Montgomery County Fire spokesman Pete Piringer said 75-year-old John Seidel, who died in the fire, may have tried to put out the flames himself. Piringer said it appears Seidel also knocked on neighbors' doors before returning to his burning apartment.Investigators said Seidel apparently returned to his apartment to rescue his 91-year-old wife, Lanita. They both died in the fire.About 100 people in the building had to be evacuated. More than 100 firefighters responded to the fire.Six people had to be treated for minor smoke inhalation.
Firefighters said fire alarms inside the building were not working at the time of the blaze. That will be part of their ongoing investigation.
Because of the fire trucks and hoses in the area, East-West Highway between Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road had to be closed.John Seidel was the area's first black owner of a car dealership.
Copyright 2005 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
Slideshow: Silver Spring Fire Images 
Couple Killed In High-Rise Fire
