Propane Grill Causes Nearly $94K In Fire Damage To Springfield Home

SPRINGFIELD, VA — A malfunctioning propane grill caused nearly $94,000 in fire damage to a home in the North Springfield area of Fairfax County Saturday evening, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

At about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, fire units were dispatched to a reported house fire in the 7500 block of Inzer Street near Braddock Road. When firefighters arrived, fire was visible in the rear of the one-story, single-family home, the fire department said.

Fire crews worked rapidly to extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading deeper into the home. Two residents were home at the time of the fire. One resident was taken to the hospital for a check-up, according to the fire department. There were no firefighter injuries reported.

Total damages as a result of the fire were about $93,750.

The homeowner had lit the propane grill on the home’s rear patio, underneath a wooden deck, and walked away. She returned shortly after and found the grill on fire. She tried to extinguish the fire with a pot of water, but could not put it out, the fire department said.

The occupants then got away from the house and called 911. Smoke alarms at the home did not go off due to the location of the fire, according to the fire department.

Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and was caused by a malfunction in the propane grill. Six residents were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was offered to the residents but was declined, the fire department said.