Ashes In Garbage Can Causes Fire At Home Near Alexandria City Limits

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A Sunday fire just outside Alexandria city limits was tied to improperly discarded ashes, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. There were no reported injuries.

Around 8 a.m. Sunday, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a single-family house fire in the 5800 block of Queens Gate Court. Units found fire showing from an attached garage and quickly began fire suppression.

No one was home when the fire occurred. A neighbor had witnessed the fire in the back of the home and called 911. The home had working smoking alarms.

The fire marshal determined the fire started in a plastic trash can along the outside garage wall due to improperly discarded ashes. The family is receiving Red Cross assistance. Damages were estimated to be $259,338.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue provided the following tips to safely handle fireplace, wood stove and fire pit ashes:

• Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
• Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.
• Put ashes into a non-combustible metal container with a lid.
• Pour water into the container to make sure the ashes are cool.
• Keep the can OUTSIDE your home, away from your fireplace or stove and anything combustible.
• Keep the can a safe distance from your home and ideally on a non-combustible surface.
• Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace, fire pit or wood stove.
• Ashes can stay hot for several days. Follow the above steps even when you wait several days to remove the ashes from the fireplace.