Heating Lamp Causes Vienna House Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded Monday afternoon to a house fire in Vienna caused by a heating lamp, according to the fire department.

Firefighters arrived at the home, in the 400 block of MacArthur Ave. NE, in the Vienna area of Fairfax County at approximately 3:35 p.m. Monday, the department said.

Firefighters encountered smoke throughout the one-story home when they arrived. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and quickly extinguished the fire in a bedroom, the department said.

The homeowner had reported the fire when they arrived home and immediately called 911, according to the fire department. There were no working smoke alarms in the home, the department noted. The residents have not been displaced. There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at $15,000, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. A heating lamp for a terrarium on a bedroom floor caused the fire.

Alternate Heating Source Safety Tips

• Keep at least three feet of clearance between your alternate heat source and anything combustible.
• Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep, and never leave children or pets unattended near heating sources.
• Only use heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features, such as automatic shut-offs. It is important to install and use heaters according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Find more information here on home electrical safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.