The past week has been busy for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD), which is investigating the causes of incidents in Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads and McLean.
Most recently, firefighters were dispatched at 12:13 a.m. today (Wednesday) to the 6600 block of Locust Way in Annandale for a house fire. Upon arriving, crews found “heavy fire” throughout the single-family home.
“Crews immediately went to work extinguishing the fire, laddering the home, and conducting searches on all floors,” the FCFRD said.
The responding firefighters, who got support from a truck and engine from the City of Alexandria Fire Department, were able to get the fire “under control quickly, preventing further damage and ensuring the safety of the community,” according to the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters & Paramedics union.
No injuries were reported, and FCFRD spokesperson Ashley Hildebrandt says the house appears to have been empty at the time of the fire, so no evacuations were needed.
#FairfaxBravest are on the scene of a house fire in the 6000 block of Locust Way. Firefighters arrived with heavy fire throughout. There are no firefighter or civilian injuries. Fire investigators are on the scene. pic.twitter.com/V9sSRF4y8X
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 19, 2025
The FCFRD is also still investigating the cause of a building fire that occurred in the 5600 block of Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads last Thursday afternoon (March 13).
“Units arrived to fire and smoke coming from the first floor” of the commercial building, the fire department said.
No injuries were reported, and as with the Annandale house fire, a cause remains under investigation, according to Hildebrandt. The Arlington and Alexandria fire departments provided assistance.
Response to nature preserve fire lauded
At their meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors lauded Fairfax County Park Authority and fire department personnel for their response to a March 12 fire at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean.
The fire scorched about one-third of an acre at the 336-acre site, located adjacent to the Potomac River, but the situation could have been much worse.
“Fire could have done significant damage to this county treasure,” Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman siad. “Thankfully, county staff responded and got this thing under control — a fantastic job.”
Singled out were Michael Cardona, a manager for the park authority, who saw smoke, followed it and determined that a few trees already were engulfed. He raised the alarm, which brought a response from firefighters across McLean, Vienna and Reston.
“A lot of folks did a lot of good work,” McKay said.
A Fairfax County Park Authority spokesperson says the fire was “small” and “contained,” thanks to the fire department’s response.
The cause is still being determined by investigators, Hildebrandt told FFXnow.
With the spring wildfire season currently underway, Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burn Law is in effect, prohibiting most open-air fires before 4 p.m. through April 30.
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve has been closed to the public since Feb. 17, as contractors remove a blockage from a wastewater siphon system. Public access is expected to be restored sometime in April.
