[Archived] Smoke Alarm Alerts Alexandria Resident to Fire

February 18, 2014

Firefighters from the Alexandria Fire Department, assisted by the Arlington County Fire Department, responded to a report of a deck fire early Tuesday morning in the 300-block of Charles Alexander Court in Alexandria. Alexandria’s Department of Emergency Communications received a 911 call at 1:26 a.m. from an occupant of the house, who was alerted by smoke alarms in the home. On arrival, firefighters found a rear deck on fire, with smoke coming into the house through an open door. They quickly extinguished the fire, confining it to the exterior of the home.

Thanks to the smoke alarms, the occupant of the home was able to evacuate prior to fire department arrival, and no one was injured as a result of the fire. Alexandria Fire Department investigators determined the fire was caused by discarded smoking materials placed in a plastic container on the deck. The damage from the fire was estimated to be $10,000.

For more information, contact Michael Gerber, EMS Supervisor and Public Information Officer, at 703.746.5217 or michael.gerber@alexandriava.gov.