Crime & Safety

Large Fire Displaces Six Residents in Herndon

Investigators say fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

A heavy fire Wednesday at a Herndon area home caused an estimated $350,000 in damages, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

One person was treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries. Six residents and a dog were displaced, but declined Red Cross assistance.

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, fire and rescue crews responded to the home at 12645 Terrymill Drive.

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There was heavy fire on the front of the two-story home and required an aggressive attack, with firefighters battling for approximately 40 minutes to put the fire out.

According to the release, a neighbor, an off-duty Montgomery County firefighter, alerted the residents of the fire after spotting it on the outside of the home. He also reportedly assisted with evacuating one resident who was in a wheel chair.

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Fire investigators say the cause of the fire appears to have been improperly discarded smoking materials.

Here are tips from the county on safely discarding smoking materials:

  • Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away as they can smolder and cause a fire.
  • Never smoke in bed.
  • Provide large, deep ashtrays with a center support for smokers. Check furniture for any dropped ashes before going to bed. Empty ashes into a fireproof container with water and sand.
  • Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn (i.e., mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.).
  • Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used.
  • If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires. 
  • To prevent a deadly cigarette fire, you must be alert. You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs.
  • Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach.


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