Crime & Safety

Recent Fires Highlight Need for Precautions in Dry Weather

Several families continue to need help from their neighbors.

Three recent fires in Loudoun serve as reminders that precautions should be taken by homeowners and business owners alike, particularly during a spell of dry weather.

A business on Ox Road and a home in Stone Ridge caught fire on July 31, while another home in Brambleton followed the next day, damaging other townhouses on the row. At least three families were displaced in all.

Facebook pages have been set up to keep neighbors apprised of the displaced families’ needs. Check here for the families from the Brambleton fire and here for the family from the Stone Ridge fire.

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“The recent extreme heat combined with the lack of precipitation has created a climate for fire,” said Fire-Rescue Chief W. Keith Brower Jr.

Carelessly discarding smoking materials, improperly using grills and fires in poorly maintained mulch beds have led to devastating consequences for some Loudoun County residents.

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“We hope that by educating the public regarding these fire hazards, they may avoid the catastrophic loss that some of our residents have faced,” Brower said.

The fire chief urges residents to be vigilant about outdoor activities involving fire, such as grilling, building campfires, smoking or even over-heated lawn equipment.

“Mulch, building materials, decks and wooded areas are all potential kindling during arid weather conditions,” Brower said. “Simple precautions can help keep you and your family safe.”

 Outdoor Grilling

  • Use propane and charcoal grills only outdoors and never leave grills unattended.
  • Place grills well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and branches.
  • When using charcoal, let the coals cool completely before disposal, and place them in a metal container.
  • For residents living in condominiums, apartments or multi-family dwellings, the Loudoun County Fire Prevention Code states that all “open flame” cooking grills, including gas or charcoal grills, hibachis or similar type cooking devices, are prohibited on combustible balconies or within fifteen feet of any combustible construction.

Smoking Materials

  • Use only the proper receptacles to discard smoking material and matches. Do not throw lit cigarettes, cigars, or pipe tobacco around areas that have been mulched. [Editor’s note: I can vouch that dry mulch can easily catch fire from cigarette ashes. My wife has a friend that smokes and one night after hanging out on our front porch, my wife emptied an ashtray in the mulch next to the house. She did not think there were remaining embers, but there were. Fortunately, I woke up early the next morning and smelled the smoldering mulch. It burned underground rather deep and wide and I believe would likely have caught the house on fire had it been next to wood instead of concrete.]

Mulch and Landscaping

  • Leave at least 18 inches between mulch beds and combustible building materials. Ensure proper clearance to electric devices, such as decorative lights.
  • Keep landscaping mulch beds moist if possible.
  • Consider using crushed rocks or stones instead of mulch.
  • Turn off all gasoline powered equipment and let cool adequately prior to refueling. 

For more information regarding fire safety please visit www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or call 703-737-8600.


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