Dog Dies In New Year's Eve Annandale Fire, Residents Displaced

ANNANDALE, VA — A dog died and three residents were displaced in an Annandale fire on New Year's Eve, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Around 5:07 p.m., Fairfax County and Fairfax City firefighters responded to the 4500 block of Banff Street to find smoke showing from all sides of a single family home. Units quickly found extinguished a fire in the basement.

The dog was found dead inside the home. The homeowner had discovered smoke coming from the basement when arriving home. Residents evacuated before firefighters arrived, and no people were injured.

Investigators determined an electrical event in a receptacle started the fire in the basement kitchen. Damages were estimated to be $93,750. Red Cross assistance was declined.

There were no working smoke alarms in the home. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue says it was one of two New Year's Eve and Day fires with no smoke alarms in the homes. The other fire occurred in the Burke area and displaced two residents.

Officials urge residents to keep working smoke alarms on every level of homes, in every bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. Fairfax County residents can get free battery-powered smoke alarms by contacting their local fire station, emailing fire.smokealarms@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visiting www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire-ems/free-smoke-alarms.