Flames From Propane Grill On Deck Lead To Chantilly House Fire

CHANTILLY, VA — Flames from a propane gas grill on the deck of a Chantilly house caused a fire that required crews from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue departments to respond to the emergency, according to the Fairfax County Fire Department. No residents or firefighters were injured in the fire.

At about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to the reported house fire in the 4000 block of Mapleton Drive in the Chantilly area of Fairfax County. When the units arrived, they observed a two-story, single-family home with fire evident on the rear deck. The fire was beginning to extend to the house. Two occupants were still inside the house and were brought out by crews.

Due to Sunday's extreme heat, a second alarm was requested to allow for appropriate work rotation and rehab of firefighters. This brought additional units from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department and the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority Fire and Rescue to the scene.

One occupant of the house lit the propane grill on the back deck, which caused fire to emit from under the grill, according to the Fairfax County Fire Department. He then attempted to extinguish the fire but was unable due to the hot weather. The occupant called 911 and went inside the house to help his wife, the fire department said.

Fire Investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started in the bottom of the grill that was located on the deck. The cause of the fire is an unspecified propane leak from under the grill.

The two occupants were displaced from their home because of the fire. Red Cross services were offered to the residents, but they declined. Damages as a result of the fire totaled about $110,000, according to the fire department.