Update:Spark from Lawnmower Ignites McLean House Fire, Family of 5 Escapes

UPDATE: Arlene Leiva-Thomas heard the two-alarm fire in her two-story Linway Terrace house before she saw it.

"It sounded like a loud fireplace. It went up right way," she said standing near the charred left side of her home.

She her children ranging in age from five to 17 left the house seeking shelter with a neighbor on their cul-de-sac.

Firefighters from Arlington and McLean arrived at about the same time to the fire on Linway Terrace near Birch Drive at St. John's Catholic Church and school.

They were soon joined by units from Falls Church and Vienna.

"There was a heavy plume of smoke" that you could see from Wiehle Drive in Reston said Battalion Chief Glenn Bydume, who came to the fire from Reston.

Leiva-Thomas' said, "My son was in the backyard starting to mow and the leaves caught fire" from a spark from the lawn mower.

 "The shed caught on fire," Leiva-Thomas said. The fire spread to the left side of house. She stood near her two-story brick home where half the left side of the house was blistered and charred. The other half was melted siding. There was a huge hole in the roof and a piece of siding dangled from the second story. A tree in the yard still smoldered.

Fairfax County Battalion Chief Glenn Bydume said "The guys responded rapidly. Confirmed no victims inside. . . It could have spread more than it did without the quick decision of the first units on the scene."

Battalion Chief Ed Brinkley, a McLean native said,"The first units got her and got a quick line on the fire and got it knock down."

Linway Terrace was closed to traffic for more than an hour from Brookhaven to Birch Road at St. John The Beloved Catholic Church.

Leiva-Thomas said he and her family had lived in their home for eight years. They will spend tonight with friends or family she said.

"I'm just thankful my kids are okay," she said.

UPDATE: 12:30 pm.A family of four escaped a mid-morning fire in their Linway Terrace house that was ignited by a spark from a lawnmower that fell on dry leaves.

"My son was in the backyard starting to mow and the leaves caught fire," said homeowner Arlene Leiva-Thomas.

She stood near her two-story brick home where half the left side of the house was charred and the other half melted siding. There was a huge hole in the roof and a piece of siding dangled from the second story.

A tree in the yard still smoldered.

Fairfax County Battalion Chief Glenn Bydume said "The guys responded rapidly. Confirmed no victims inside. . . It chould have spread more than it did without the quick decision of the first units on the scene."

ORIGINAL STORY: 11:25am Firefighters from McLean, Arlington and Falls Church are in the midst of putting out a fire in a two-story house on Linway Terrace across the street from St. John The Beloved Catholic Church.

Fire Officials said there are no injuries.