Cigarette Sparks Centreville Fire, Leaves Over 100 Without Homes

CENTREVILLE, VA—An improperly disposed cigarette caused the Wednesday, May 1 fire at a senior apartment complex, leaving more than 100 residents displaced, according to acting Fairfax County Fire and Rescue chief John Caussin. Firefighters also battled a fire miles away at Centreville townhouses, which displaced over 30 and one at a Chantilly bank Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to the fires in the Centreville area around 1 p.m., one at the Forest Glen Senior Apartments and the second at townhouses in the 5800 block of Watermark Circle. In the senior apartment complex fire, units found fire coming from the third level and into the attic. At least 75 units were evacuated, at least two people were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries and three were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Miles away, least 10 townhouses were significantly damaged with one structure collapse. There is no word on the cause of this fire at this time.

There were no fatalities in either fire.

The same afternoon, firefighters battled fire and heavy smoke coming from a bank at the Fair Lakes Shopping Center.

County human services personnel are working with various nonprofits such as the Red Cross, to provide shelter and assistance. The county has established an emergency shelter for displaced residents at Cub Run RECenter, 4630 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly. Those impacted by the Centreville fires should call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880.

At this time, residents are asked not to drop off donations until officials determine what the impacted residents need, including those that lost everything. For the time being, gift cards that can be used for food, clothes, household items, etc would be helpful. Call Volunteer Fairfax at 703-246-3460 or email volsrus@volunteerfairfax.org to coordinate your gift. If after hours, leave a message and staff from Volunteer Fairfax will return your message to coordinate your donation.

Caussin says 40 percent of the structural fires in the county so far this year were a result of improperly discarded smoking materials. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department urges residents to follow and share the following safety tips about smoking materials:

• Do not throw away cigarette butts in potted planting soil. Soil becoming too dry can be highly flammable.
• Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away, as they can smolder and cause a fire.
• Do not smoke in bed.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays with a center support for smokers.
• Check furniture for any dropped ashes before going to bed.
• Empty ashes into a fireproof container with water and sand.
• Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn, such as mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture and draperies.
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used.
• Choose fire-safe cigarettes, which are less likely to cause fires.
• Be alert to prevent fires You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach.

First image of Forest Glen Senior Apartments, second image of structure collapse at Watermark Circle via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue