At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 9-1-1 call reporting smoke in the area of Kinsale Place in the Little River District. The first units to arrive on scene confirmed the location as being the 25000 block of Connor Court and reported a two-story residence with smoke and fire on the first floor and a possible basement fire. A Rapid Intervention Taskforce was requested, which brough additional units to the scene to support firefighter operations.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units from Kirkpatrick Farms, South Riding, Aldie, and Brambleton, as well as units from Fairfax County and Prince William County, were dispatched to the scene. Additionally, numerous command staff and personnel from the LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) responded. Crews performed a size up of the structure and initiated an aggressive interior attack, deploying hose lines, locating, and extinguishing the fire in the basement and first floor within approximately 10 minutes. During the incident, a hole in the floor was identified towards the rear of the residence where the fire had burned through the first floor. A search of all levels and rooms of the structure did not reveal any additional life safety hazards or occupants. As crews were performing interior operations, a firefighter fell through the hole from the first floor into the basement. A Mayday was declared for the firefighter by a nearby crew member, who was quickly located and assisted out of the structure by additional crews on scene. The Mayday was subsequently cancelled. The firefighter sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The LCFR FMO investigation classified the fire as accidental, caused by the spontaneous combustion of improperly discarded construction materials, with damages estimated at $420,000. Smoke alarms were present and sounding when the reporting party called 9-1-1. No occupants were found on scene, and it was confirmed that the structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire. No civilian injuries were reported.
When sanding and/or refinishing wooden floors, remember to discard sanding and staining materials by placing them into a metal container with a self-closing lid, away from the structure. If no such container is available, be sure to lay the rags flat on an exterior surface and allow them to completely dry.
To learn more about smoke alarms, home escape planning, and other important fire and life safety information, visit our website or call the LCFR FMO at 703-737-8600.