Ashburn Condo Fire Caused By Discarded Cigarette

ASHBURN, VA — Firefighters are advising the public about fire safety measures after responding to a fire caused by an improperly discarded cigarette at a condomium in Ashburn that did not have a working smoke alarm, according to a Loudoun County Fire & Rescue (LCFR) announcement.

The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a structure fire at 42695 Wardlaw Terrace around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23. The caller, who resided in the Goose Creek Village Condominiums, advised the rear of a neighboring home was on fire.

Fire and rescue crews responded from Lansdowne, Leesburg Fire, Ashburn, Moorefield, Sterling Fire, Brambleton and Dulles South.

Firefighters say that the first unit arrived to find a four-story “stacked condominium” with no apparent smoke or fire conditions. Upon further investigation, moderate smoke conditions were located on the third floor. As occupants were assisted out of the structure, the fire was located and extinguished on a third floor balcony.

According to LCFR, there was limited fire extension into the structure. The building exterior was covered with a cement fiber siding, which is non-combustible and does not melt. This material minimized the spread of fire to other parts of the building, allowing occupants to evacuate safely as firefighters extinguished the fire.

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental in nature, caused by improperly discarded smoking materials on the balcony. The smoke alarm in the home where the fire occurred did not activate as the smoke alarm battery had been removed.

Minor water damage resulted to homes below the fire unit but in total all damages were limited to approximately $5,000. No occupants were displaced and there were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

LCFR is advising that two important safety messages related to this incident:

• Smoke alarms: Always ensure you have properly functioning smoke alarms in your home. It is recommended to have at least one on each floor and one outside each sleeping area.The alarms should be kept clean, tested monthly and replaced after ten years from manufacture date.
• Dispose of smoking materials safely: Put your cigarettes out in proper containers such as metal or ceramic pots filled with sand. Place these containers away from the house, not on the front porch, deck or just outside your door. Disposing of smoking materials in potted plants, mulch beds or near other flammable materials can quickly cause a fire that may spread to nearby structures.

For more information on smoke alarms or fire safety, visit www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal.

Photo credit: LCFR