Lightning Sparks Fire At Mount Vernon Hotel

MOUNT VERNON, VA — A severe thunderstorm early Tuesday morning was strong enough to unleash damage-causing lightning in the region. In Mount Vernon, the lightning sparked a fire at a hotel.

Photos posted by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue show the fire happened at the TownePlace Suites Alexandria Fort Belvoir hotel. Units responded around 1:13 a.m. to find fire showing from the roof and worked to evacuate the hotel and extinguish the fire. A second alarm was requested, and Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services fire assisted on the scene.

There were an estimated 108 occupants in the building when the fire occurred. A person who was outside noticed the fire and notified the manager. Smoke alarms did not activate due to the location of the fire.

No civilians or firefighters were injured. The 108 occupants were displaced, and hotel management is assisting to get them accommodations.

Investigators determined the fire started on the parapet wall on the roof when lightning struck. Damages were estimated to be $100,000.