Franconia Grill Fire Does $250,000 Damage, Sends 2 Firefighters to Hospital

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- A gas grill caused a fire over the weekend at a Franconia townhome doing $250,000 damage and sending two firefighters to the hospital, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue reported.

On Saturday, at approximately 5:42 p.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue were dispatched for a report of a gas grill on fire in the 6200 block of Clara Edward Terrace in the Franconia area of the county (see map below).

First arriving firefighters from Fire Station 5, Franconia, reported smoke showing from the roof of a middle of the row, three-story townhouse. Firefighters went to work to extinguish the fire.

Two residents were at home when the fire broke out and were alerted to the fire by a friend and safely evacuated, officials said. Because the fire began on the exterior of the townhome, the smoke alarms inside the home did not activate.

More than 30 firefighters responded to the scene. Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital to get a checkup for a heat-related illness, officials said. There were no civilian injuries.

The fire investigation determined the fire originated on the rear deck and was caused when a gas grill ignited and spread to the townhouse. Damages were estimated to be $250,000 with some of that total applied to a neighboring unit which sustainedsome fire damage.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said they would like to remind residents to grill safely and to review safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association: Grilling Safety Tips

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