Fire Displaces 13 People From Single-Family House

Sign up for the Fairfax City Patch newsletter!

A fire early Wednesday at a single-family home in West Annandale has displaced two adults and 11 children, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

There were no injuries, and all of the occupants escaped the blaze when they were alerted by smoke alarms and smelled smoke, the fire department said. The Red Cross is assisting the occupants.

Damage to the house at 4032 Olley Lane, near Fairfax City, is estimated at $87,500. Fire investigators said the fire was accidental. They determined that “an electrical event” in the attached garage caused the blaze, the fire department said.

Fire and rescue units responded to the fire at about 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, encountering flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof and eaves of the garage of the ranch-style home upon arrival. They brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the house.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department offers these electrical safety tips:

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If your power goes out often or the lights in your home flicker, produce an odor or make noise, have an electrician come in to inspect your wiring.
• The electrical outlet in the bathroom should have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). This is a tool that protects you from dangerous shock when water and electricity come together. An electrician can install a GFCI for you.
• All electrical outlets and switches should be covered by face plates.
• When possible, avoid the use of cube taps and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Inspect electrical cords to make sure they are in good condition.