Two-alarm house fire in the 2200 block of Yale Dr in the Belle Haven area.
With fireplace activity out of the picture, it would seem house fires are minimal in the warm weather, but around Fairfax County this spring, there have been several fires, including one that killed two people, put families in danger and temporarily displaced others as their homes are rebuilt.
BELLE HAVEN: The latest fire took place around noon on Saturday, June 15. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded to a two-alarm house fire in the 2200 block of Yale Drive in the Belle Haven area. Crews responded to reports of a fire in an attached carport extending to the home. Firefighters arrived to heavy fire showing from the carport and second floor of the home. The fire was brought under control and there were no reported injuries. The Alexandria City Fire Department and the Prince George's Fire Department from across the Potomac River assisted in this emergency.
DOUBLE FATAL IN CLIFTON: On Wednesday, April 10, at approximately 9 a.m., Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to the 13900 block of Whetstone Manor Court in Clifton for reports of smoke in a home. While enroute, the call was upgraded to a house fire with two occupants trapped.
This fire in Clifton led to two deaths.
Upon arrival, units observed smoke and a large volume of fire coming from the home. Crews worked to get the fire under control. Firefighters initiated searches for the two occupants. The occupants were located and removed from the home by firefighters as the fire was brought under control.
A total of five occupants were transported to local hospitals. Three occupants were transported with non life-threatening injuries. The two occupants removed from the home were transported with life-threatening injuries and later succumbed to their injuries, FCFR said.
Smoke alarms alerted the occupants to the fire and three occupants got out and called 911. The fire displaced eight occupants and two pets. Red Cross assistance was offered and accepted. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.
OAKTON: Improperly discarded smoking materials were to blame for an Oakton fire on Wednesday, April 17 that seemed to start on the deck, FCFR said. At approximately 8:54 a.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, along with mutual aid partners from the City of Fairfax Fire Department, were dispatched to a house fire in the 3000 block of Steven Martin Drive in the Oakton area of Fairfax County.
Units arrived on the scene of a two-story, single-family home with fire showing from the deck. Crews were quickly able to contain and extinguish the fire.
Despite the presence of smoke alarms, there was no indication that they activated during the incident. One occupant was transported for non-life-threatening injuries. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation indicate the cause of the fire was accidental, stemming from improperly discarded smoking materials on the deck. The total property loss is estimated at $303,000.
Photos courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue