Richard Collins (left), the Development Director for the Sandy Spring Museum, recognized the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (SSVFD) at an event on Friday, January 17, 2020 and presented the President of the SSVFD, Johnie F. Roth, Jr., with a donation in appreciation of the Department’s efforts to extinguish a fire on Monday, January 13, 2020 in the breezeway connecting two portions of the museum . Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were alerted around 7PM by an automatic fire alarm. When fire department units arrived on the scene, they found smoke conditions in the building and fire in the ceiling of the Farquhar Gallery which they quickly extinguished. The firefighters subsequently checked to make sure there was extension on the fire to adjoining structures. There was extensive damage to the structure of the Farquhar Gallery ceiling and a bit of damage to the Exhibit Hall. All told, the MCFRS PIO, whose photos are found below, estimated the damage at $50K. The Museum has indicated that “the fast action of the firefighters spared the permanent exhibits, artifacts and artwork”. Firefighters moved some of the artifacts from the impacted area to safety during the response. The Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department appreciates the gesture by the Museum and joins the community in being grateful that the structural damage was limited and that no contents were damaged.