Accidental Fire Causes $70K In Damage To Herndon Townhouse: Blog Post

HERNDON, VA — A fire that caused an estimated $70,000 in damage to a Herndon townhouse on Monday was found to be accidental in nature, according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department blog post.

Fire investigators determined that the fire, which started in the attic of a townhouse in the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive, was caused by a malfunctioning electrical circuit above the second-floor bathroom, according to the post.

Fire units from Fairfax County and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department responded around 5:46 p.m., on Monday for the report of a townhouse fire in the Herndon area.

Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed smoke visible from the roof of a two-story, middle unit townhouse. Crews were able to quickly access the attic and extinguished the blaze.

Seven occupants were in the home, when they noticed the smell of smoke. After failing to put out the fire with a fire extinguishing, one of the occupants called 911, according to the post. Although a smoke alarm was present in the home, it did not activate.

Although nine occupants were displaced by the fire, no civilians or fire personnel were injured.