Church Goes Up In Flames In Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA—Police say a Fairfax church caught fire Sunday afternoon sparked by an electrical event happening in a microwave. No one was inside when the fire broke out, and no injuries occured.

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, located in the 11900 block of Braddock Road, was the site of the two-alarm fire, NBC Washington reported. Fairfax County and City of Fairfax firefighters responded to the fire around 4:04 p.m.

A person passing by the church discovered the fire and called 911. Units arrived to find smoke coming out of the roof and located the blaze in the basement, which was being renovated. A second alarm was requested when the fire spread. Firefighters extinguished the fire soon afterward.

Fire investigators say the blaze started in the basement's kitchen. Damages are estimated at $93,750, but the fire was not a total loss. According to NBC Washington, the fire happened in an annex of the church.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue