Cause Of Coppermine Road Apartment Fire Identified

HERNDON, VA —Fire investigators have determined that an apartment building fire in the 13400 block of Coppermine Road on Wednesday was caused by improperly discarded smoking material, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. The fire originated in mulch on the exterior of the building and spread into the structure.

Just before 1 p.m., fire and rescue units responded to reports of an exterior fire spreading to the building. First-arriving units found flames extending from outside into a ground-floor apartment, with fire reaching toward the second floor, according to the incident report. Crews worked to extinguish the fire, search the building and evacuate residents.

The building was fully occupied at the time of the fire. An occupant smelled smoke outside his apartment and, after checking, saw smoke coming from a mulch bed outside the building, according to FCFR. All occupants were able to evacuate safely or shelter in place.

One patient was evaluated at the scene, according to the department. No firefighters were injured.

Three occupants were displaced by the fire, and damage is estimated at $98,275, according to the fire department.