Fairfax County fire investigators have identified the cause of a two-alarm fire that damaged three townhouses in Springfield yesterday (Monday).
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was called to the 6200 block of Levi Court in the Greenwood neighborhood around 2:30 p.m. for the blaze.
“Crews arrived to find heavy fire and smoke showing from two floors of a middle unit townhouse,” the FCFRD said in an update today. “Firefighters quickly went to work to extinguish the fire and perform searches.”
No injuries were reported.
According to the fire department, people inside the townhouse discovered the fire before smoke alarms activated and evacuated before firefighters arrived. The 911 call was placed by neighbors.
The fire ultimately affected three townhouses, causing an estimated $865,540 in damages, the FCFRD says.
An investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal found that the fire was started accidentally on the rear patio after someone “improperly discarded smoking materials,” which typically refers to cigarettes.
The FCFRD shared some safety tips for disposing of smoking materials:
Never dispose of cigarette butts in potted planting soil. The soil, when it gets too dry, can become highly flammable.
Ensure designated outside smoking areas have an appropriate fireproof container, ashtray or bucket.
Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away, as they can smolder and cause a fire.
