Fire at Annandale Home Over the Weekend? It Was Only a Drill

ANNANDALE, VA -- If you saw a fire on Willow Run Drive in Annandale over the weekend, no worries. Firefighters were using a donated building that was being demolished for training purposes.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, fire stations from the 4th Battalion participated in a training fire session at 4624 Willow Run Drive in Annandale (see map below). The home was donated to the fire department by the owner(s) as the structure was set to be demolished.

"This valuable training provides realistic conditions for Fairfax County firefighters to hone the skills necessary when called to emergencies throughout the county," Fairfax County Fire & Rescue noted on its Facebook page.

Several training scenarios (evolutions) are planned out and conducted throughout the day. Each evolution involves the fire ground skills of searching for occupants, deployment of hose lines to extinguish the fire, and ventilation to remove toxic products all conducted under intense heat and stress, the fire department noted.

These drills not only refine the skills of the firefighters but are a great opportunity for the community to come meet and witness their firefighters at work.

PHOTO of home on fire courtesy of Fairfax County Fire & Rescue