Dog Found Dead, Residents Displaced In Burke House Fire

BURKE, VA—A dog died in a Burke townhouse fire Monday, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. No one else was injured.

Around 11:45 a.m., Fairfax County and Fairfax City units responded to the 8700 block of High Water Court. The three-story townhouse had smoke showing from the outside. Crews located the fire in the basement and put it out.

During a search of the home, two firefighters "partially" fell through the first floor and were able to get out of the building, according to Deputy Chief Brad Cochrane. They were not injured. The dog had already died when firefighters located it in the home.

The residents, two adults and a baby, were not home at the time of the fire. They will be receiving Red Cross assistance. Damages are estimated to be $125,000.

The cause of the fire was an electrical event in the wiring supplying an electrical outlet. The fire happened under the floor space between the basement and first floor.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue