On Monday, March 5, at approximately 1:29 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the City of Alexandria Fire Department were dispatched for a report of smoke in the area near the 1800 block of Belle View Boulevard in the Belle View section of Fairfax County. Multiple callers to 9-1-1 reported large volumes of smoke in the area. The Fairfax County Police helicopter was already flying in the area and located a building with smoke coming from the roof.
Units arrived on scene of a three-story, garden apartment building with smoke showing from the roof. Crews quickly located a fire in the attic. A second alarm was requested due to challenging conditions caused by the large amount of fire and layout of the building. The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished. There were no reported firefighter or civilian injuries.
There are a total of six condo units in the building. Each unit had a working smoke alarm. However, none of the smoke alarms activated due to the location of the fire.
Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental in nature and started in the attic. The cause of the fire was an electrical event involving a ceiling fan located in the attic above a unit.
Five occupants and two pets were displaced as a result of the fire. Red Cross assistance was offered and declined. Damages as a result of the fire were estimated to be approximately $70,000.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department News 