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

News Release 09-64
Date: August 31, 2009

Two-Alarm McLean House Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a house fire Sunday, August 30, 2009, at approximately 5 a.m. in the McLean area of Fairfax County. The single-family home is located at 929 Woburn Court.

Firefighters encountered fire and smoke coming from the attic and rear of the home upon arrival. A second alarm was struck, bringing approximately 60 firefighters to the scene. The fire originated in the basement and then traveled the walls and up and into the first and second floors of the home. Firefighters brought the bulk of the fire under control in approximately 50 minutes. It took firefighters over an hour to seek out and extinguish several pockets of fire inside the walls. Occupants were alerted by sounding smoke alarms and escaped unharmed. Two adults have been displaced. Red Cross was not needed. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Damage is estimated at $500,000.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. The cause of the fire was an electrical anomaly involving the home's circuit breaker panel.

Electrical Safety Tips

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• When possible, avoid the use of “cube taps” and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Captain I Willie F. Bailey, 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.