(Updated at 5:15 p.m.) Two people died in separate house fires over the weekend, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
The first fire occurred in the 3800 block of Kings Hill Court in Mount Vernon around 5:58 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 20).
Summoned by a neighbor who saw a fire from the back of a two-story single-family house, firefighters arrived to see the blaze making its way from the first floor up to the second floor, according to an FCFRD press release.
After “quickly” extinguishing the fire, firefighters found a man described as elderly inside the house. He was taken with life-threatening injuries to a hospital, where he later died, the department said.
“The cause of death is pending an autopsy and toxicology report from the medical examiner,” the department said in a news release today (Monday). “There were no firefighter injuries.”
Investigators determined that the house had smoke alarms, but it’s unclear if they were triggered by the fire, which started in the living room.
The exact cause of the fire hasn’t yet been determined, according to the fire department. Some residents of the house who weren’t home at the time of the fire have been displaced.
The FCFRD estimates that the fire resulted in approximately $475,500 in property damages.
Just before 6pm this evening units from #FCFRD responded to a house fire in the 3800 blk of Kings Hill Ct. Crews arrived with fire showing. The fire is out. During fire attack crews located and rescued one occupant. The occupant has been transported to a nearby hospital. pic.twitter.com/vlh7Nr9VET
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2024
Later that evening, the fire department responded at approximately 11:23 p.m. to another fire at a two-story, single-family house, this time in the 8200 block of Mockingbird Drive in Annandale’s Wakefield neighborhood.
According to the FCFRD, arriving crews saw “heavy fire” visible from the house’s roof. A woman was found inside and taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
As in the Mount Vernon fire, no firefighter injuries were reported, and the woman’s cause of death will be officially determined by an autopsy and toxicology report from the medical examiner.
“The fire was called in by a neighbor who reported seeing flames from the roof of the home,” the FCFRD said. “The origin of the fire was within the attic space of the structure. The cause has been attributed to a fault within the electrical lighting branch circuit related to the second-floor bathroom.”
The Wakefield fire produced approximately $639,913 in damages, the fire department reported.
These are the first fatal fire incidents of 2024, but on Dec. 11, a man was found dead in a McLean house where a two-alarm fire broke out.
Units are on the scene of a house fire in the 8200 blk of Mockingbird Dr. Crews arrived with fire through the roof. The fire is out. During fire attack crews located and rescued one occupant. The occupant has been transported to a nearby hospital. Fire investigators are on scene. pic.twitter.com/dB9fOBhu5L
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2024
(Updated at 10:30 a.m.) A man was found dead in a McLean house where a two-alarm fire broke out this morning (Monday).
Several Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched at 9:15 a.m. to the house fire on Ridgeview Circle near Rosamora Court, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
“Crews are currently working to get the fire under control,” the FCFRD said.
Per the scanner, 911 received a call around 9:24 a.m. from someone who advised their ex-husband may be inside the house, and at 9:40 a.m., firefighters reported finding a victim on the second floor.
Since the incident is ongoing, a fire department spokesperson said they couldn’t yet confirm whether there were any occupants. However, the Fairfax County Police Department says a man was found dead, and its detectives were called to assist FCFRD with the investigation.
Fire units from Alexandria, Falls Church and Arlington were also spotted on the scene.
Units are on scene of a two-alarm fire in the 4000 blk of Ridgeview Circle in McLean. Crews are currently working to get the fire under control. pic.twitter.com/BkpwKGL2yQ
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 11, 2023
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.
Damages from a house fire in the Fair Oaks Chase neighborhood on the Fourth of July topped $1 million, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
Two people were displaced by the two-alarm fire in the 12300 block of Firestone Court, one of two house fires put out on a busy Tuesday night for the FCFRD.
Fairfax County firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Units from the City of Fairfax Fire Department and Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue also responded to provide assistance.
“Units arrived on the scene of a two-story, single-family home with heavy fire showing from the garage and extending into the attic,” the FCFRD said in a news release on Friday (July 7). “Crews quickly initiated firefighter operations to extinguish the fire. A second alarm was called to bring more resources to the scene.”
Both residents were home at the time of the fire and managed to self-evacuate, according to the fire department. They were taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The FCFRD said it has determined that the fire started in the garage, but the cause is still under investigation.
The department estimates that the fire resulted in approximately $1,068,000 in property damages.
The FCFRD reported two house fires, one apartment fire and nine outdoor fires on the night of Independence Day.
The second house fire occurred after midnight in the 650 block of Stuart Court in Herndon and led to one person being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. As of Wednesday (July 5), investigators hadn’t established a cause.
UPDATE 12300 blk of Firestone Ct: The fire is under control. Crews are hitting hotspots. Fire investigators are on scene. Two patients transported with non-life threatening injuries. No reported firefighter injuries. pic.twitter.com/DnsncPf4Ev
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
Fairfax County fire investigators still trying to determine what caused a blaze at a vacant house in Oakton over a month after it occurred.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 2300 block of Hunter Mill Road at 7:35 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, “for reports of an outside fire,” according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
“Upon arrival, crews discovered an abandoned house and shed fully engulfed in flames. Crews battled the fire until it was brought under control,” the department said in a report on Monday (July 3).
No injuries were reported, but the fire caused an estimated $144,210 in damages.
According to the department, investigators have determined that the fire started at two different spots in the main house and the shed on the property.
“The cause of the fire remains under investigation,” the FCFRD said.
The department didn’t specify what factors are contributing to the extended investigation, but a spokesperson told FFXnow said there have been no new updates since the blog post was published on Monday.
The FCFRD has responded to more than a dozen fires over the past couple of days. In addition to 12 different fires on the night of the Fourth of July, there was a townhouse fire in Centreville and an apartment fire in the Fair Oaks area last night (Wednesday).
The Fourth of July kept the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department busy, as at least three people were injured in fires that cropped up overnight.
One person was injured in a fire that broke out in Herndon around midnight today (Wednesday).
The fire engulfed the home on the 650 block of Stuart Court shortly after July 4 celebrations wrapped up in the area.
One individual was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries, according to the FCFRD.
A spokesperson for FCFRD told FFXnow that the cause of the fire is not yet known.
“Fire investigators are still conducting their investigation. I do not have a cause at this time,” the spokesperson said.
A resident reported that Fourth of July fireworks were underway in the neighborhood, but it’s unclear for now whether those were connected to the fire at all.
UPDATE 650 blk of Stuart Ct: The fire is under control. Crews are hitting hotspots. Fire investigators are on scene. One patient transported with non-life threatening injuries. No reported firefighter injuries. pic.twitter.com/Jj7KUMrLUR
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
The fire was one of nine outside fires, two house fires and one apartment fire that broke out on or around July 4, the fire department reported.
Another two people were hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries in a two-alarm house fire on the 12300 block of Firestone Court in the Fair Oaks area around midnight.
While the cause of the fires is currently unknown, the FCFRD encouraged the community to properly dispose of fireworks by completely soaking them in a bucket of water overnight before getting rid of them.
Units are on scene of a two-alarm house fire in the 12300 blk of Firestone Ct in the Fair Oaks area. Heavy fire showing. All occupants are accounted for. Crews are actively working to bring the fire under control. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/1NYd9zsVDb
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
#FCFRD is currently working 9 outside fires, 2 house fires, and 1 apartment fire. While the cause of these fires is unknown, we can not stress enough the importance of properly disposing of fireworks. Completely soak fireworks in a bucket of water overnight before disposing. pic.twitter.com/AHg3s4hl2O
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
Four McLean residents lost their home last week in a fire that investigators say was ignited by grease on an outdoor grill.
The fire started accidentally in the 6000 block of Chesterbrook Road on June 2 when grease that had accumulated on the back patio grill ignited, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported yesterday (Thursday).
FCFRD firefighters and units from the Arlington County Fire Department were dispatched to the single-family house at 6:24 p.m. after the residents evacuated and called 911.
“Units arrived on the scene to find a large volume of fire coming from the back of a two-story, single-family home and extending up to the attic,” the department said. “Crews quickly initiated firefighting operations to contain and extinguish the fire.”
No injuries were reported, but in addition to displacing all four residents, the fire resulted in an estimated $483,060 in property damages, according to the FCFRD.
“Smoke alarms were present, but it is unknown if they activated after the fire extended to the house,” the fire department said.
#FCFRD is on the scene of an house fire in the 6000 blk of Chesterbrook Rd in the McLean area. Units arrived w/ heavy fire showing from the back of home & extending to the attic. All occupants accounted for. No reported civilian or firefighter injuries. The fire is under control pic.twitter.com/VVJq0ryXGq
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 2, 2023
Photo via FCFRD
Arson was behind an April 27 house fire in Annandale that cost two people and a dog their home, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
Clinton James Hall, 27, was arrested yesterday (Wednesday) and charged with one count of burning or destroying a building after investigators determined that the fire in the 4900 block of Bristow Drive was “incendiary in nature.”
According to the FCFRD report, Hall started the fire on the porch of a three-story, single-family home in the Annandale Terrace neighborhood late that evening. Both residents and the dog were inside at the time.
“The dog alerted the occupants and all self-evacuated from the residence prior to fire department arrival,” the department said. “There were working smoke alarms that activated after the fire was discovered.”
Fire investigators have determined that the April 27 house fire on Bristow Dr in Annandale was incendiary in nature. The fire started on the porch. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $461,480. https://t.co/jnJoRDo7im
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 3, 2023
Firefighter units were dispatched to the scene at 11:57 p.m. and arrived to find a blaze that was visible from three sides of the building. Crews “worked quickly” to extinguish the fire, and no injuries were reported.
However, the occupants and their pet were displaced, and the fire caused an estimated $461,480 in property damages.
Virginia classifies arson as a Class 3 felony if someone is inside the building when it’s burned. If convicted, Hall would face beween five and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The news of Hall’s arrest came the same day that a house fire farther north in Annandale took the lives of two dogs and a cat.
Multiple pets were killed in a house fire in the Broyhill Crest neighborhood of Annandale this morning.
Fairfax County firefighters were dispatched to the single-family house in the 3500 block of Marvin Street at 11:19 a.m., according to scanner traffic.
Upon arriving, firefighters found smoke issuing from a fire apparently concentrated in the house’s basement, which was difficult to access due to “hoarding conditions.”
All human occupants were able to evacuate and are safe, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Ashley Hildebrandt says. The exact number of people who were in the house hasn’t been confirmed yet.
However, two dogs and a cat were trapped by the fire. Annandale Today first reported that one of the dogs, a Doberman, had died, and the FCFRD later confirmed that all three pets were killed.
Units are on scene of a reported house fire in the 3500 blk of Marvin Street in the Annandale area. Units arrived on scene to find smoke showing. The fire is under control. No civilian or firefighter injuries. Sadly, two dogs and a cat did not survive. pic.twitter.com/X5kFuwO1Zh
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 3, 2023
Happening now. A fire on Marvin Street in Broyhill Crest in Annandale has claimed the life of the resident's Doberman. Another dog and cat are still inside. Units from the Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, and Edsall Road fire stations are on the scene. pic.twitter.com/UFMKcbjZRD
— Annandale Today (@AnnandaleToday) May 3, 2023
Hat tip to Xavier “X” on Twitter
A person was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries this morning (Wednesday) after a house fire at the edge of Clifton.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units reported fire showing when they arrived at the house in the 6800 block of Compton Heights around 9:45 a.m.
Crews had to rescue one occupant, who was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Prince William County Fire and Rescue provided assistance in extinguishing the fire. Most units were able to return to service by 11 a.m.
Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the fire, the FCFRD said.
UPDATE – house fire in the 6800 block of Compton Heights Circle. Fire is out. One occupant transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. No reported firefighter injuries at this time. @PWCFireRescue assisting. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/LSzSKqOvuM
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 15, 2023
UPDATE – house fire in the 6800 block of Compton Heights Circle. Most units returning to service. Fire Investigators on scene to determine cause of fire. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/sudW7XgG5j
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 15, 2023