Residents of the Broadlands Station neighborhood are safe and able to stay in their homes thanks to an observant neighbor’s quick call to 911 and a prompt emergency response.
At 3:30 a.m. this morning, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a neighboring house was on fire. The 911 caller reported smoke and fire in the rear of the home.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units from Moorefield, Ashburn, Kincora, Arcola, South Riding, and various command officers were dispatched to the fire. Engine 623 from Moorefield arrived on the scene to find a three-story townhome with active fire in the rear of the structure involving the deck.
When firefighters arrived, there were no residents outside to meet the fire department, and a car in the driveway, indicating occupants are possibly still inside. Firefighters immediately alerted the homeowners and assisted evacuation of the neighboring residents as additional crews worked to extinguish the fire.
Fire crews successfully contained the fire to the exterior of the structure and checked all exposures for any fire extension. The first LCFR unit arrived on the scene at 03:35, and the fire was deemed under control at 03:42.
The LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office investigation classified the fire as accidental, caused by the spontaneous combustion of materials located in a planter box, and estimated damages at $30,000. The fire was isolated to the deck and privacy wall below, with no extension into the residence. No residents were displaced, there were no injuries, and smoke alarms did not active as the fire was on the exterior of the home.
“The keen observation of a neighbor, their immediate call to initiate the 911 system, and a quick fire department response made all the difference in this morning’s townhouse fire,” said System Chief Keith Johnson. “Without this early intervention, this fire could have easily spread to the neighboring townhomes causing tremendous damage and catastrophic injury.”
For fire prevention and life safety information visit the LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office webpage at www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or call 703-737-8600.