House Fire In Wolf Trap Area Displaced 5 Residents

VIENNA, VA — A Wolf Trap area house fire caused no injuries but displaced five residents Saturday, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

The fire happened around 8:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of Snughill Court in the Wolf Trap area. Units found fire showing from the back of the single-family home and quickly brought the fire under control.

Five residents had been home when the fire occurred. One resident had looked out the window and discovered the back of the house on fire. The resident alerted the others and all safely evacuated. Smoke alarms sounded after the fire was found.

Investigators determined improperly discarded ashes from a fire pit started the fire on the rear deck. Damages were estimated to be $187,500.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue provided the following tips to safely handle fireplace or fire pit ashes:

• Do not discard your ashes into a combustible container like a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
• Put ashes into a non-combustible metal container with a lid.
• Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.
• Pour water into the container to make sure the ashes are cool.
• Keep your can outside the home, away from your fireplace or stove and anything combustible.
• Keep the can a safe distance from the home and ideally on a non-combustible surface.
• Teach family members to be safe with ashes from the fireplace, fire pit or wood stove.
• Ashes can stay hot for several days. Follow the above steps even when you wait several days to remove the ashes from the fireplace.