On Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 12:41 p.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the City of Fairfax Fire Department were dispatched for a reported house fire in the 5000 block of Oakcrest Drive in the Fairfax section of Fairfax County.
Units arrived on the scene of a two-story, single family home to find fire on a side exterior wall, extending to the attic. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported.
Five occupants were home at the time of the fire. A neighbor discovered the fire on the exterior and roof of the house and alerted the occupants. The neighbor then called 9-1-1. Working smoke alarms were present but did not sound due to the location of the fire.
Fire Investigators determined that the fire started in an exterior wall on the side of the home and was accidental in nature. The cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction involving the wiring of a branch circuit within the wall stud space.
Five occupants were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross services were offered but declined. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $55,000.