House Fire on Jonella Farm Drive deemed accidental

The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office investigation determined March 7 structure fire in the 16000 block of Jonella Farm Drive was accidental, due to an electrical malfunction in the first-floor sunroom. Damages have been estimated at $980,000. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. No occupants were home at the time of the fire; however, a total of four occupants were displaced.

During the investigative process, the LCFR FMO located the family’s pet cat hiding in the debris. The cat was cleaned and cared for by fire and rescue staff before being reunited with its owners. The family dog remains unaccounted for.

At approximately 9:11 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received multiple 9-1-1 calls for a reported structure fire in the Catoctin District. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue units from Round Hill, Purcellville, Philomont, Lovettsville, Hamilton, Loudoun Heights, Leesburg, and Mount Weather, as well as Frederick County, Md., and numerous command staff responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, crews found a two-story, single-family dwelling with significant fire on the first and second floors. Firefighters made an exterior attack with multiple handlines and an elevated master stream.

A Rapid Intervention Taskforce was requested, bringing additional firefighting resources to the scene, including the Rehab and Mobile Air Units. After roughly 20 minutes, the bulk of the fire was extinguished and incident priorities transitioned to salvage, overhaul, and scene preservation.

Accidental electrical fires do occur and, in addition to having working smoke alarms, there are several simple steps you can take to keep your family safe. Take a moment to complete the National Fire Protection Associations Electrical Safety Checklist to ensure that your home is protected against electrical fires.

To obtain additional information on fire prevention and life safety, please visit the Fire and Life Safety Programs page on our website or contact Public Education Manager Lisa Montalvo at 571-258-3222. LCFR’s Smoke Alarm Program offers free home safety inspections to all residents. If your smoke alarms are broken or outdated, we will replace them with battery powered alarms at no cost and install additional alarms as necessary. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the smoke alarm hotline 703-737-8093 or visit the Smoke Alarm Program page on our website.