On Thursday, August 20 at approximately 9:04 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded to a house fire in the 10200 block of Forest Lake Drive in Great Falls. Due to limited fire hydrants in the area, a nine-vehicle tanker task force was added to the response.

Units arrived on the scene of a two-story, single-family home, and crews were quickly able to extinguish the fire in the attached garage. Simultaneously, firefighters also pulled an attack line (fire hose) to the interior to keep the fire from entering the home. The fire was rapidly extinguished with only minor extension into the home. There were no reported injuries.

Two people were home at the time of the fire. A homeowner smelled smoke and observed same coming from the interior garage door. She alerted the other occupant and both immediately exited the home and called 9-1-1. Since the fire started in the garage, which was later confirmed by Fire Investigators, the home’s smoke alarms had not activated. The cause of the fire could not be determined.

Nearby residents reported on Nextdoor hearing multiple sirens and a helicopter overhead, and neighbors counted at least 17 emergency vehicles at the site of the incident, including the tanker task force. Two occupants of the home were displaced because of the fire, and Red Cross assistance was offered, and declined. The initial damage estimate as a result of the fire was approximately $105,450.

Source:  Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department