The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office (LCFR-FMO) determined that Thursday’s house fire on Royal Street in Leesburg was accidental, caused by combustibles coming in contact with a portable heater.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews were dispatched for a house fire at 3 Royal Street in Leesburg shortly after noon on Thursday, January 26, 2023. 911 callers reported smoke and fire from the roof of a single-family home. Units arrived on scene to find heavy fire from the rear of the home and all occupants located safely outside.
Firefighters immediately worked to extinguish the fire in the rear and set up ladder operations for roof access. The bulk of the fire was extinguished quickly however crews spent an extended period of time searching for fire spread in the flooring and wall joists.
The LCFR-FMO investigators estimated the damages at $396,000 for both the structure and contents. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Two adults have been displaced and are staying locally with family.
Annually across the United States, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires. These are preventable by following several, simple safety tips:
- Have all heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Always clear a 3-foot space around portable space heaters, keeping anything that can burn a safe distance away.
- Always turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Also install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors as heating equipment is a potential source of this “silent killer.”
For more information on home fire safety, to schedule a free home safety assessment, or obtain information regarding our LC-CFRS smoke alarm program, visit Loudoun.gov/smokealarms or call 703-737-8093.