Sterling House Fire Caused By Unattended Candle Displaces 9, Results In $300K In Damages

STERLING, VA — A house caught fire in Sterling on Tuesday night after a candle was left unattended, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue reported. A firefighter was taken to the hospital after the blaze for evaluation as a precaution; the residents of the home were not injured.

The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Units from Sterling, Kincora, Ashburn, Moorefield, and Fairfax County were dispatched to the scene on Elm Tree Lane in Sterling.

When units arrived on the scene, the two-story home had fire and smoke coming from the front of the home. The residents had already safely evacuated, officials said.

Firefighters stretched a hose line to the home's second floor to put out the fire and completed a search to ensure no people or pets were left in the residence. After the fire was extinguished, several units remained on the scene to ventilate the structure as officials from the fire marshal's office conducted their investigation.

Officials determined that the fire was accidental and caused by an unattended candle. They estimated damages to total $305,600. The fire displaced a family of nine who lived in the home, the fire marshal's office said. The nine affected people are staying with family in the area.

The residents were not injured during the blaze. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for evaluation of a minor medical condition. The evaluation was a precaution, officials said.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue urged residents to use candles in a safe manner. they outlined the following tips:

• Candles should be placed on a sturdy, nonflammable surface, away from children, pets and anything that can burn.
• Candles require constant supervision by an adult, and you must ensure that candles are completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• A safer alternative is using flameless candles that still look and smell like real candles.

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