Resident Rescued Without Injury From Lincolnia House Fire

LINCOLNIA, VA — A closed bedroom door made the difference for a resident escaping a house fire in Lincolnia early Friday.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the Alexandria Fire Department responded around 3:06 a.m. to the 4900 block of Grafton Street. Units found smoke visible and fire on the second floor. Two residents had evacuated before the fire departments arrived, but one remained trapped in a bedroom.

According to the fire department, closing the door gave the resident time to be rescued, keeping the fire and smoke out of the bedroom. The fire had been six feet from the room, according to the fire department. The resident escaped safely, and there were no injuries.

"Closed doors can reduce fire growth, limit damage to your home, keep temperatures down, and can even save your life if you become trapped," Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said in a news release.

Investigators determined the fire's cause to be an electrical event involving an extension cord supplying a power strip that was powering a refrigerator. Damages were estimated to be $9,000.