A two alarm fire at 1:50 a.m. Tuesday, drove two Mount Vernon Woods residents from their home and caused an estimated $110,000 damage, according to Raul Castillo, public information officer, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Reports indicated the blaze started in the downstairs living room area of the two story townhouse at 8017 Capistrano Place. It was extinguished within 20 minutes, Castillo said.
First arriving units reported heavy fire visible from the first and second levels. An additional alarm was dispatched bringing 50 emergency personnel to the scene, Castillo reported.
Although there were no injuries, one adult and one child were displaced. The Red Cross assisted in placing them in a nearby hotel for the night.
"Although they were not near the fire, firefighters had to break windows in order to fight the blaze," Castillo explained. "Therefore, the windows had to be covered with wood after the fire was extinguished and it was better for the residents to be out of the house until the windows can be repaired."
Responding to the first alarm were units from Mount Vernon, Woodlawn, Penn Daw, and Fort Belvoir, according to the department. The second alarm brought in units from Alexandria, Lorton and Springfield. A total of 20 units responded, according to department reports.
There were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.