FCFRD News Blog : Unattended Candle Cause Of House Fire

Press release from the FCFRD News Blog:

December 6, 2021

On Saturday, December 4, at approximately 10:13 a.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the City of Fairfax Fire Department responded to a reported house fire in the 4000 block of Doveville Lane in the Wakefield area of Fairfax County.

Units arrived on the scene of a one-story, single-family home with smoke showing. Crews quickly located and extinguished the fire. One occupant was transported to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. There were no firefighter injuries reported.

One occupant was home at the time of the fire. The occupant was altered to the fire due to the activation of the smoke alarm. Upon investigation, he observed his couch on fire. He then attempted to extinguish the fire. The occupant was unsuccessful, so he called 9-1-1 and self-evacuated with his dog.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental in nature and started in the living room. The fire was caused by an unattended candle that ignited the lampshade, and then spread to the nearby couch.

One occupant was displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was offered and declined. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $37,500.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department would like to remind residents to avoid the dangers of fire while burning candles to please follow the safety tips listed below:

This press release was produced by the FCFRD News Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.