The Loudoun County fire.

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

An accidental fire sparked by a lithium-ion battery in Virginia caused more than $1 million in damage, according to officials.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, Nov. 15, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews — with an assist by nearby agencies — were called to the 19000 block of Kipheart Drive in Ashburn, where there were multiple reports of a fire in an area home. 

Upon arrival, firefighters were met by heavy smoke conditions and fire showing from the first floor of a two-story home. 

"Due to the advanced fire conditions, crews initially began defensive operations, deploying hoselines to protect adjacent homes and elevated master streams to extinguish the bulk of the fire," a spokesperson for the agency said.

Once conditions improved, crews were able to begin battling the blaze from inside the residence, knock down the flames, and declare the fire under control.

According to officials, "despite the large volume of fire and smoke, crews were able to successfully contain the fire to the home of origin, limiting damage to the neighboring homes." 

One resident and one firefighter suffered minor injuries in the fire. Two people were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Investigators say that the homeowners had plugged in a lithium-ion battery pack to charge and were alerted by the home’s smoke alarms before discovering the fire on the first floor.

The damage was estimated at $1,252,152, according to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal's Office.

"The LCFR-FMO reminds community members about the importance of having working smoke alarms and testing them regularly to ensure they function as designed," officials said.

"Community members are also reminded about the importance of using lithium-ion batteries correctly," they added. "These batteries supply power to many kinds of devices and if damaged, can catch on fire or explode."