House Fire In Chantilly Caused By Electrical Wiring: Fire Department

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A fire in Chantilly caused more than $1.67 million in damages on Monday afternoon, according to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. The fire marshal's office said the blaze was caused by electrical wiring issues.

The fire began around 4:20 p.m. on Monday at a home on Paramount Place in Chantilly. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found significant fire showing from the garage and the first floor of the house, the fire department said.

When fire crews arrived, the home's residents had already evacuated with their two dogs. No injuries were reported.

After an investigation, the fire marshal's office said the fire was accidental in nature and sparked by an electrical anomaly in the home's wiring.

May is National Electrical Safety Month. The fire department provided the following tips to help residents stay safe:

• Keep your home’s electrical system in good repair. Contact a licensed electrician if you have flickering lights, sparks, non-functioning outlets, or need wiring repairs or upgrades.
• Residents should have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician, including scheduling electrical inspections when buying or remodeling a home.
• Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have:
  • Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
  • A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
  • Discolored or warm wall outlets
  • A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
  • Flickering or dimming lights
  • Sparks from an outlet
• If you notice a possible electrical issue in your home, it is recommended you turn off the main or master switch in your circuit panel until a qualified electrician has fixed the issue. When in doubt, call 911 for assistance.