Hurricane Irene Spares Fairfax City

Fairfax City escaped most of the damage from Hurricane Irene. While surrounding areas saw homes destroyed by fallen trees and widespread power outages, residents within the city limits only had to contend with leaf and branch debris.

Career and volunteer firefighters stood by Saturday night, ready to respond to emergency flood, tree damage and outage calls. They staffed a separate swiftwater rescue unit and prepared two pickup trucks equipped with portable pumps and chainsaws.

They waited. And waited.

"We essentially had only six additional calls related to storm," said Chief Dave Rohr of the Fairfax City Fire Department. The hurricane-related calls were minor, forgettable.

At one point in the night, about 500 people were without power within the city limits, said Rohr. Most are back on the grid now.

Intersection lights are working on all major city roads. Leaf and small branch debris cover neighborhood streets and line major thoroughfares. No major damage has been reported.

Others weren't so lucky.

About 75,000 Dominion customers in Northern Virginia are still without power. Traffic signals along Route 1, Lee Highway (not in Fairfax City), Ox Road, Springfield/Backlick, Burke and McLean/Tysons aren't working.

"While most flood waters have receded and interstates and primary roads are clear, downed trees on secondary roads continue to be reported, particularly in Fairfax County," according to VDOT. Since many fallen trees contain power lines, drivers and residents are strongly advised to avoid contact with them."

Vienna saw a fair share of the region's Irene damage.

A tree came crashing into a house on Ross Drive – about four feet from the owner, Rick Panizza's, bed. Panizza is fine. in the half of his house that still has power.

Another tree crashed down on a home in the Chesterbrook Woods section of McLean. A block away, a tree fell onto a pickup truck. No injuries have been reported.

Fairfax City residents were out and about Sunday morning, taking advantage of Borders' closing sale, hanging out at Main Street Bagel Deli and shopping at Fair City Mall, Pickett Shopping Center, Courthouse Plaza and University Mall on the other side of George Mason University.

Check back for more information as it becomes available.