Alexandria — The Alexandria Fire Department responded to a residence in the 300 block of North Fayette Street on Saturday, June 16, 9:09 p.m. for a reported explosion and flames on a patio with possible injuries. Arriving personnel found a 53-year old female city resident with second and third degree burns over 80 percent of her body. Emergency personnel immediately began medical care and transported the patient to MedStar Burn Center in Washington D.C. Although the investigation remains open, the preliminary report indicates that the resident was attempting to ignite a recreational outdoor fireplace constructed of metal. An accumulation of the vapors associated with the fuel source ignited causing a flash fire. The condition and status of the resident is unknown at this time.
The Alexandria Fire Department responded to 108 South Washington St. on Monday, June 18, 11:42 a.m. for a report of an odor of natural gas inside the building. Construction workers were working in the basement of the building when they noticed an odor of what they described as natural gas. Arriving firefighters detected an odor of something in addition to high levels of carbon monoxide in the basement. Six businesses in the 600 block of King Street and the 100 block of South Washington Street were found to have elevated levels of carbon monoxide. All six buildings were evacuated. The 600 block of King Street was closed to traffic in both directions. Northbound lanes of South Washington Street were reduced to one lane in the 100 block of South Washington Street while firefighters ventilated the buildings and the gas company attempted to locate the source of the odor and the carbon monoxide. Carbon Monoxide levels returned to normal by 2 pm and the building occupants were permitted to reoccupy the buildings shortly afterward. Fire Department equipment began clearing the scene at 2:15 pm. The area streets were reopened afterward. There were no reported injuries during the incident. The cause of the odor and the carbon monoxide was not determined while the fire department was on the scene. Washington Gas Company is handling the investigation.
Alexandria Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in four different burglaries that have occurred this year at the same location. The most recent burglary occurred on Saturday, June 2. Sometime between 9 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., an unknown suspect forced entry into Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota, located at 3750 Jefferson Davis Highway. The suspect was able to remove cash from an office safe before fleeing.
The suspect is described as an unknown race male, wearing a baseball cap, a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, sneakers and gloves.
The three other burglaries occurred on the following dates and times:
- Monday, Feb. 27, between midnight and 1 a.m.
- Monday, March 12, between 1:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m.
- Saturday March 31, between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Anyone with additional information about these burglaries is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Section of the Alexandria Police Department at 703-746-6711.