1 Resident Injured, Cats Rescued From McLean House Fire

MCLEAN, VA — A Monday house fire in McLean injured one resident and led firefighters to rescue two cats, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Units from Fairfax and Arlington counties responded to a single-family home in the 6800 block of Churchill Road around 8:32 p.m. According to the fire department, a resident had accidentally spilled kerosene while refilling a kerosene lamp. As the light was turned on, the kerosene caught fire. Two residents that were home evacuated before the fire department arrival.

Fire units arrived to find fire showing from the first floor windows. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to one room. Firefighters rescued two cats and left them with EMS for treatment.

One resident went to the hospital with minor injuries. The cats were taken to a veterinarian and are expected to recover. There were no firefighter injuries.

According to fire investigators, the cause of the blaze was kerosene igniting and spreading to nearby combustibles. Smoke alarms were working and activated after the fire was found.

Damages are estimated by the fire department to be $62,500. The fire displaced two residents, but Red Cross assistance was declined.