Firefighters Honored For Response To $48M South Alex Fire

GROVETON, VA — On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the county's fire and rescue personnel, police and partners from surrounding jurisdictions for the response to the massive Feb. 8 fire at the South Alex construction site.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay praised fire and rescue personnel that responded to the fire, which he said was the largest seen in his lifetime. He noted that personnel arrived within minutes and there were no fatalities from the fire. Two firefighters and one resident suffered minor injuries.

"When you think about the fact that blocks and blocks and blocks of houses and businesses could have been on fire...the work of our men and women to be able to contain the fire to the site where it originated and protect life and property all around that area is just absolutely amazing," said McKay.

Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk added that adjacent properties, particularly The Shelby and Kings Garden Apartments, were overall intact with minor breakage of windows and siding that had melted off.

Leaders praised the assistance from other local fire departments, as well as community partners. The Board of Supervisors awarded certificates to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Fairfax County Police Department, Alexandria Fire Department, Virginia State Police, American Red Cross, Arlington County Fire Department, Dominion Energy, Fairfax Connector, Fairfax County Department of Public Safety and Communications, Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management, Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services, Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, Prince George's County Fire and EMS and Virginia Department of Transportation.

"This was really a team effort. While our fire and rescue department was taking the lead, there are so many other logistical elements that have to happen to have the type of professional response to prevent the loss of life that we had," McKay said.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue identified over $48 million in damages from the four-alarm fire. The fire destroyed the five main buildings under construction, 14 townhouses, and one trailer. In addition, five apartment buildings, 14 additional townhouses, four single family homes, 29 vehicles, and multiple pieces of construction equipment were damaged. Investigators traced the fire back to a second-floor trash chute in the residential portion of a multi-use complex. The cause was identified as improperly discarded smoking materials.

Fairfax County Fire Chief Butler told the Board of Supervisors a staff position is being assigned to the fire marshal's office to examine fire code standards for buildings under construction.