Daily Voice
By Zak Failla From Daily Voice
Two late-night fires lit up Loudoun County — one sparked by unattended candles inside an Aldie home, another by a chimney gone wrong in Purcellville — keeping fire crews busy overnight.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews said firefighters responded to two separate residential fires in the Little River and Catoctin districts between Monday night, Oct 20, and early Tuesday, Oct 21.
No injuries were reported, but both blazes caused heavy damage and displaced several residents.
The first fire broke out around 9:23 p.m. Monday in the 24000 block of Yellow Poplar Place in Aldie, where smoke and flames were spotted pouring from a two-story single-family home.
The fire in the 24000 block of Yellow Poplar Place
Fire and Rescue units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Aldie, Brambleton, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority rushed to the scene.
A Rapid Intervention Task Force was also called in for extra manpower.
Crews quickly made entry and knocked down the flames. Investigators determined the fire was accidental — caused by unattended candles, according to the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Damage to the home is estimated at $450,000.
The occupants weren’t home at the time, but firefighters confirmed the smoke alarms were working. Two adults and a child were displaced.
Hours later, shortly after 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, crews were called to another fire — this one in the 37000 block of Chappelle Hill Road in Purcellville.
The fire in the 37000 block of Chappelle Hill Road.
Fire units from Purcellville, Philomont, Round Hill, Lovettsville, Hamilton, and Leesburg responded and found a 20-by-20 storage building fully involved.
A Tanker Task Force was called in to secure water supply and protect nearby propane tanks.
That fire was also ruled accidental, caused by a chimney from a fuel-fired appliance igniting nearby combustibles, officials said. Damage was estimated at $400,000, though no one was displaced.
Fire officials used the incidents as a reminder to never leave candles unattended and to always place them on sturdy, nonflammable surfaces away from anything that can burn.
“Candles require constant supervision by an adult, and you must ensure candles are completely extinguished before leaving the area,” the department said, adding that flameless candles are a safer option.
They also stressed the importance of working smoke alarms in every home.
AlterNet