Basement Fire Causes $25K In Damage To Fairfax Home

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Inspectors with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue determined that vapors from flammable solvent caused a fire Wednesday at a Fairfax area home, according to a post on the department's blog.

Units from FCFRD and the city of Fairfax Fire Department responded around 10:31 a.m. for the report of a house fire in the 4400 block of Gilbertson Road in the Fairfax area of the county.

Firefighters found flames showing in the basement of the two-story single family home, according to the blog post. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported.

When the fire started, six contractors were conducting renovations in the basement of the home. They were all able to get out of the building before calling 911.

Fire investigators established that the fire was accidental. The workers were using a flammable solvent to remove mastic glue for asbestos floor tiles. Vapors from the solvent ignited and started the fire, which spread to plastic sheathing along the walls.

Since the home was being renovated, no occupants were displaced. Investigators estimated the fire had caused approximately $25,000 in damage to the home.