Improperly discarded fireworks from a Fourth of July celebration were the cause of a Herndon house fire that resulted in $371,290 in damages.

The fire broke out around 12:55 a.m. in the 600 block of Stuart Court in Herndon, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

A dozen people were home at the time of the fire and safely evacuated the two-story house. One individual was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Investigators have determined that the fire started accidentally near a sliding glass door inside the screen-in patio, where fireworks were improperly discarded, according to the FCFRD.

“Smoke alarms were present, but activated after the fire was discovered,” the department said.

All 12 occupants have been displaced by the fire, which was one of several blazes that firefighters had to address the night of July 4.

A second house fire in the Fair Oaks area caused a reported $1 million in property damages. The cause in that incident remains under investigation.

The Fourth of July may be on a Tuesday this year, but Fairfax County residents can celebrate with fireworks starting this weekend.

On Tuesday, it’s possible to see the National Mall fireworks from locations along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. But fireworks shows will light up the skies around Fairfax County, too.

Here’s a roundup of fireworks events starting tomorrow (Saturday).

Saturday, July 1

• McLean Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at Langley High School (6520 Georgetown Pike): activities start at 6:30 p.m., free
• Lake Fairfax Fireworks at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston): activities start at 12 p.m., $20 tickets at gate or free for bikers and pedestrians
• FireWorks at the Workhouse Arts Center (9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton): activities start at 6 p.m., $40 admission or free for bikers and pedestrians.

Sunday, July 2

• Vienna’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW): activities start at 4 p.m., free
• City of Fairfax Evening Show & Fireworks at Fairfax High School Stadium (3501 Lion Run): activities start at 6:30 p.m., free
• Falls Church Independence Day Fireworks & Celebration at Meridian High School (121 Mustang Alley): activities start at 6 p.m., free

Tuesday, July 4 

• Town of Herndon Fireworks at Bready Park (814 Ferndale Avenue): activities start at 6:30 p.m., free
• An American Celebration at Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway): activities start at 9:30 a.m., event covered with regular admission of $26 for ages 12 and up, $13 for ages 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and under
• Fireworks & Fun at Turner Farm Park (925 Springvale Road, Great Falls): activities start at 6 p.m., free with suggested $20 per family donation

(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) This weekend through next week is set to be full of fireworks, parades and celebrations for the Fourth of July.

In D.C., the National Parade returns for the first time since 2019 after the Covid pandemic canceled the festivities in 2020 and 2021. Nearby, the City of Alexandria is holding its annual birthday celebration on Saturday, July 9, after it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, and scaled back last year.

Throughout Fairfax County, there are also plenty of parades and fireworks if you don’t want to go too far. Here’s a roundup of things to do for the holiday.

Friday, July 1

• Vienna’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW), 7:30-10 p.m.

Saturday, July 2

• Park Authority fireworks display at Lake Fairfax (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston), dawn to 10 p.m.
• Fireworks at Workhouse Quad (9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton), 6-10:30 p.m.
• McLean Independence Day Celebration at Langley High School (6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean), 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Monday, July 4

• An American Celebration at historic Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon), 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• City of Fairfax Independence Day Parade (4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax), 10 a.m.
• Hometown celebration with a parade at Great Falls Village Centre (754-C Walker Road, Great Falls), 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and
• Hometown celebration with entertainment and fireworks at Turner Farm (925 Springvale Road, Great Falls), 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Town of Herndon fireworks at Bready Park (814 Ferndale Ave, Herndon), 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 5

• City of Fairfax Independence Day Evening Show with fireworks at Fairfax High School’s front parking lot (3501 Lion Run, Fairfax), 6:30- 9:30 p.m. (Correction: Fairfax City’s fireworks show was erroneously listed under July 4.)

Motorcyclist Dies Falling from I-495 — “An Alexandria motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon (June 26) after crashing and falling nearly 30 feet off the westbound Interstate 495 overpass exit ramp for Eisenhower Avenue toward Mill Road…He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.” [ALXnow]

System for Helicopter Noise Complaints Unveiled — D.C. area residents finally have a clear place to go to lodge complaints about helicopter-related noise. The site planenoise.com/dcmetro was unveiled yesterday (Monday) as part of a 60-day pilot program that could become permanent. Complaints can also be filed by phone at 877-209-3200 or a mobile app. [Rep. Don Beyer/ARLnow]

Fire Department Shares Fireworks Safety Tips — “The Fourth of July would not be the same without those breathtaking fireworks. However, tragedy can strike within seconds when fireworks are not properly and safely used. Thousands of people are injured each year in the United States due to fireworks. Consider the following safety tips when using permissible fireworks…” [FCFRD]

Fort Belvoir Plans Springfield Expansion — “The U.S. Army is advancing plans to build a big new distribution center at Fort Belvoir as part of a larger planned intelligence campus expansion. The 525,000-square-foot facility, which would house some 600 employees, is proposed for the western portion of the 804-acre Springfield parcel known as Fort Belvoir North.” [Washington Business Journal]

Falls Church Seeks Information About Cat — “The City of Falls Church Police are looking for the owner of a black cat that bit a person in Big Chimneys Park (210 Gibson St.) on Friday, June 24. The police want to know if the cat is vaccinated against rabies. The cat is described as black with either yellow or brown eyes.” [City of Falls Church]

Influential Local Land Use Lawyer Dies — “Martin D. ‘Art’ Walsh, who helped reshape Arlington’s skyline as co-founder of one of Northern Virginia’s most prominent land use law firms, died June 6 at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va. He was 78 and a resident of McLean, Va.” [The Washington Post]

County Highlights Need for HIV Testing — June 27 was National HIV Testing Day, so the Fairfax County Health Department released a video highlighting an HIV-positive advocate’s journey and the importance of getting tested. While no cure has been found for AIDS, the disease sometimes caused by the virus, which attacks the immune system, prevention and treatment services are available. [FCHD]

Ribbon Cut on Wakefield Pickleball Courts — “This weekend we cut the ribbon on two new pickleball courts at Wakefield Park! Expanding access to this growing sport is a priority in Fairfax County.” [Supervisor James Walkinshaw/Twitter]

Vienna to Laud Local Pets — “The Town is launching the Mayor’s Pet of the Week! Nominate your pet by emailing Mayor@viennava.gov with your pet’s name, the kind of animal it is, and what makes it special. The first honorary award goes to Mayor Colbert’s cat, Ginny!” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]

It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 78 and low of 60. Sunrise at 5:47 am and sunset at 8:40 pm. [Weather.gov]