Montgomery County Rescue Service Responds To Nearly 400 Calls During Sandy

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to 371 calls from 5 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday, as Hurricane Sandy brought heavy rain and high winds to the region.

Calls for assistance peaked between 8 - 10 p.m. Monday, when personnel responded to 156 calls, according to an MCFRS update.  Around 9 p.m., rescue officials said they were handling an increase in requests for assistance with trees and wires down.

"Naturally, with the wind we've had and the rain, this is to be expected," said assistant chief Scott Goldstein in a video update.

Responders were called out 47 times between midnight and 4 a.m.

MCFRS responded to three calls for water rescues from residents trapped in their cars, but all three were out and safe when units arrived, according to the update.

Rescuers described a "significant" incident in the 20 block of Machester Place in Silver Spring, where a causing a "major gas leak."

The leak was brought under control quickly and no one was injured, but 14 adults and five children were displaced, according to the update.