Update: Space Heater Caused Fire at Vienna Home, Says Fire Department

The unidentified elderly couple escaped the fire, but they were taken to an area burn center for treatment Wednesday morning. The Red Cross is assisting them, the fire department said.

The department estimated that the damages to the two-story, single-family home totaled $176,250.

Units on scene 9800 block Bridleridge Ct. 1st arriving units found fire showing. 2 patients transported to area burn center. PIO enroute pic.twitter.com/8BQaC2oiX3
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 22, 2017

Fire investigators determined that the house fire, in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court, began in a sunroom above the garage, the Fire Department said Thursday. It was caused by an unattended space heater that ignited other items in the room.

Firefighters responded to the scene at 5:27 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, fire and smoke were filling the sunroom, and the flames extended into the house's first and second stories and the attic, the fire department said.

The firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, WJLA-TV Channel 7 reported.

One of the home's two occupants discovered the fire after hearing something fall down in the sunroom and seeing smoke coming from underneath the door, the fire department said.

A neighbor initially called 911 and reported smoke coming from the house. The elderly couple then called 911 to report their house was on fire and that everyone was safely outside.

The house had one smoke alarm, but "it did not alert the occupants to the fire because it had been disabled," the fire department said.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reminds residents that working smoke alarms save lives as well as property. In addition, it offers these guidelines about the safe use of space heaters:

• Use only appliances that cut off automatically if tipped over.
• Use only models that have been approved by a nationally recognized testing agency (UL or Factory Mutual).
• Space heaters need space! Keep combustible materials at least 3 feet away from space heaters.
• If using an electric model, make sure the cord is not frayed or worn. Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
• Keep children and pets away from portable heaters. It only takes a second for curiosity to lead to a serious burn.
• Turn heaters off when you leave home or go to bed.

Images: The blaze broke out early Wednesday morning at a house on Bridleridge Court; firefighters, below, check the house after the blaze was extinguished (FCFRD).