FCFRD News Blog : Flammable Solvent Vapors Ignite Fairfax House Fire

Press release from the FCFRD News Blog:

April 22, 2021

On Wednesday, April 21, at approximately 10:31 a.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the City of Fairfax Fire Department, were dispatched for a reported house fire in the 4400 block of Gilbertson Road in the Fairfax area of Fairfax County.

Units arrived on the scene of a two-story, single family home with fire in the basement. Crews quickly extinguished the fire. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

Six contractors were in the basement at the time of the fire. When the fire started, all the contractors self-evacuated and called 9-1-1. Smoke alarms sounded after the fire was discovered.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental in nature and started in the basement. The cause of fire was the ignition of the vapors created by flammable solvent, used to remove the mastic glue for the asbestos floor tiles. The fire spread to the plastic sheathing along the walls.

No occupants were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was not required as the house was under renovation. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $25,000.

This press release was produced by the FCFRD News Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.