One person is dead and another critically injured after a house fire March 5 at 2623 S. Grant St.
Arlington County Fire Department crews arrived on the scene shortly before 9 p.m. to find dark smoke coming from all levels of the single-family home and flames on the first floor.
After neighbors reported that the two residents of the home were unaccounted for, crews had difficulty entering through the front door because of hazardous hoarding conditions inside. Widespread clutter in the home not only delayed search, rescue and suppression efforts but was also found later to be a factor in spreading the flames, according to ACFD.
Both victims were ultimately located on the first floor and removed from the home. The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes.
An adult male was pronounced dead at the scene and an adult female was transported to the Virginia Hospital Center in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Some 60 firefighters responded to the blaze, including personnel from Alexandria Fire Department, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Emergency Services and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue.
ACFD fire marshals are investigating the origin and cause of the blaze and have been unable to confirm the presence of any working smoke alarms in the home.