Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.Pa-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

07/29/08

Two-Alarm West Annandale Restaurant Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a commercial building fire Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at approximately 1:45 a.m., in the western area of Annandale. The building, the Squire Rockwell's restaurant, is located at 8700 Little River Turnpike.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke billowing from the roof, eaves, and windows of the one-story, Tudor-style restaurant upon arrival. Firefighters quickly called for a second alarm, bringing over 60 firefighters to the scene. Firefighters found active fire in the roof, ceiling, and surrounding void spaces. Firefighters accessed the roof area to breach hidden void areas to keep the fire from spreading throughout the 7,100 square foot structure. It took firefighters approximately 90 minutes to stabilize the incident. The majority of the property damage was in the bar area. The restaurant was closed when the fire broke out. One firefighter received a non-life threatening injury and was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Firefighters were called to the scene by the Uniformed Fire Officer who was working in the Department of Public Safety Communications, 911 call/dispatch center. While briefly outside, he smelled smoke and then quickly dispatched fire units from Fire and Rescue Station 23, West Annandale, to investigate for a possible fire in the area. The 911 call/dispatch center is approximately 100 yards from the structure.

Damage is estimated at $1 million.

According to fire investigators, the fire started in a ceiling space above the bar area of the restaurant. The fire is under investigation.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.