A Dominion Energy worker was injured by an electrical transformer explosion that occurred this morning (Monday) outside the Mars headquarters building in McLean.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were first dispatched to 6885 Elm Street around 10 a.m. Additional responders were sent to the scene minutes later after a firefighter reported concern about the building catching fire, according to scanner traffic.
“We had a transformer that re-exploded again,” the firefighter said at 10:08 a.m. “We have exterior fire [from a] transformer next to the building.”
Responders got the fire under control by 10:10 a.m. One person with serious burn injuries was flown to a local hospital by the Fairfax 1 helicopter, which landed at nearby Sherman Elementary, according to scanner traffic.
An FCFRD public information officer at the scene confirmed that one person was transported to a hospital by helicopter. A Dominion Energy spokesperson confirmed that one of its workers was injured by the transformer fire.
“No information yet on the severity,” Aisha Khan, Dominion’s media relations manager for Northern Virginia, told FFXnow.
No firefighter injuries were reported, the FCFRD said in a tweet at 11:38 a.m.
The Mars building was vacant in anticipation of demolition. Employees of the candy and pet food company have temporarily relocated to an office in Tysons during a multi-year renovation of the headquarters building.
#FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a transformer fire in the 6800 block of Elm St in McLean. The fire is under control. One civilian transported by helicopter. No firefighter injuries. pic.twitter.com/lZ2RMZvyxX
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 23, 2024
James Jarvis contributed to this report
