Ashburn House Fire Tied To Electrical Cause, No Injuries Reported

ASHBURN, VA — A house fire in Ashburn Wednesday caused no injuries, but Loudoun County Fire and Rescue says one resident was displaced.

Units responded to a call around 4:48 p.m. Wednesday at a single-family home in the 42000 block of Waxpool Road. Firefighters encountered fire showing from the roof and all residents safely evacuated outside. Units quickly found the active fire in the attic and deployed multiple hose lines to put out the fire. Crews also checked to ensure there was no fire extension in the walls.

A fire marshal's office investigation found the cause of the fire was an overloaded electric circuit, which caused insulation to ignite inside a pipe chase in an upstairs bathroom. Firefighters did not find working smoke alarms in the house. Damages were estimated to be $100,000. One resident was displaced.

Fire and rescue units from Moorefield, Ashburn, Kincora, Dulles South, and Kirkpatrick Farms assisted with the fire response.

In light of the electrical fire, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue encouraged the following tips:

• Ensure that all appliances are using the proper type of wall receptacle outlet.
• Plug all major appliances such as refrigerators, washers/dryers, stoves, air conditioners and space heaters directly into a wall receptacle outlet.
• Do not use extension cords and power strips in place of permanent wiring, as they are only intended for temporary use.
• Inspect cords regularly and immediately unplug and replace those with any damage or fraying.
• Have a qualified electrician do all electrical work and meet local permitting requirements.
• Immediately call a qualified electrician if you have frequent issues with blowing or tripping circuit breakers, observe sparks, discoloration, or a burning smell near outlets, or feel a tingling sensation when touching an electrical appliance.