Huge Fire In Reston Caused By Unattended Grill: Investigators

RESTON, VA -- The fire that destroyed a house in a quiet neighborhood in Reston appears to have started from an unattended charcoal grill under the deck in the rear of the house, investigators believe.

Firefighters were called to the 11900 block of Grey Squirrel Lane in Reston just after 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 and found a two-story, single-family house with a "significant volume of fire showing from the rear of the home on all three levels," according to a report from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Crews were able to knock down the fire from the outside using fire hoses, and then they conducted an interior attack to finish off the fire.

Two adults and a child were at home at the time of the fire. The child discovered the fire before a smoke alarm could sound, and all of them were able to evacuate safely before firefighters arrived. There were no injuries.

"Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental in nature and started under the deck in the rear of the home," the report states. "The fire was caused by an unattended charcoal grill located under the deck in the rear of the home."

The family was displaced by the fire, but declined Red Cross assistance. Damage from the fire is estimated to be about $202,500.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue