Two Destructive Fires On One Day Caused By Smoking Materials: Loudoun Fire Authorities

ASHBURN, VA – Loudoun County fire and rescue authorities have concluded that two destructive May 5 house fires, which displaced 14 people and killed a dog, were caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Loudoun County authorities are asking people to be very careful when disposing of smoking materials.

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On May 5, at 12:21 p.m., fire and rescue teams from Leesburg, Lansdowne, Ashburn and Hamilton responded to a townhouse fire on the 300 block of Sunset Course Terrace in Leesburg, the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Service reports. They found intense flames engulfing the front and back of the property and called for additional units from Loudoun and Fairfax.

The fire ultimately spread to two neighboring homes. Two residents were assessed for smoke inhalation and one was taken to a hospital for treatment. A dog was also found dead in a home. In total, five people from three townhouse units were displaced. Damages were estimated to be nearly $1 million.

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire was accidental, caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

On the same day, just over an hour later at 1:45 p.m., units from Lansdowne, Ashburn, Aldie, Lucketts and Frederick County, Maryland, were dispatched to another fire at the 70 block of Plaza Street in Leesburg. Crews found flames on the outside of a first floor apartment, threatening units above.

Though swiftly brought under control, according to authorities, the fire caused significant damage to three units, leaving nine residents displaced. No injuries were reported, but structural damage is assessed as reaching $135,000. The Loudoun Fire Marshal’s Office concluded this fire also resulted from improperly discarded smoking materials, in this case smoking materials being tossed in mulch outside the first-floor apartment.

Loudoun authorities point out that just in February 2026, a fire in Ashburn attributed to discarded smoking materials caused $485,000 in damages and displaced a family.

Loudoun authorities are asking county residents to only smoke outside and dispose of smoking materials in a deep, sturdy ashtray on a stable surface, to soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before discarding them, never to put smoking materials out in flammable materials like mulch or plastic and to keep ashtrays and other smoking material containers away from buildings.

Read more of their advice here.