At 2:46 a.m., on Thursday, July 27, 2023, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 25,000 block of Fishermans Pond Court in Aldie reporting their home was on fire.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Aldie, Dulles South, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority – Dulles, and numerous command officers were dispatched to the scene. When firefighters arrived, they found visible fire from the front and side of the house and requested additional resources. Fire crews quickly attacked the fire from the exterior with a deck gun, a master stream device that can deliver large amounts of water at higher pressures than handheld hoselines. Once deemed safe, firefighters entered the home to extinguish the remaining fire and look for extension. Fire and rescue crews quickly brought the fire under control, minimizing fire spread and further damages to the remainder of the house.
The LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office investigation into the fire revealed the fire was accidental, caused by an electrical or mechanical malfunction within the vehicle parked inside the garage. A family of two adults and five children were displaced and were assisted by the American Red Cross. The damages are estimated at $930,800, which includes $563K in structural damages, $337,800 in contents and $30K for vehicles.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported to civilians or fire department personnel. The residents were alerted by the smell of smoke and located a vehicle on fire in the garage and immediately closed the door. By closing the door, the rate of fire spread was slowed, letting the residents escape safely outside. Working smoke alarms were present and sounded, further alerting residents and neighboring homes to the emergency. To learn more about smoke alarms, home escape planning and other important fire safety information visit loudoun.gov/fire or call the LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-737-8600.