Three displaced after early morning fire in Purcellville

Three occupants are displaced after an early morning fire at a home in the 17000 block of Strathallen Court in Purcellville. Fortunately, there were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries. Investigators from the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental, caused by an unknown malfunction of a lithium battery.

At approximately 12:53 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, the Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call for a reported structure fire. LCFR units from Purcellville, Round Hill, Hamilton, Lovettsville, and Leesburg, as well as multiple command officers were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, units found a two-story, single-family home with fire showing from a second-floor window. A Rapid Intervention Taskforce was subsequently requested, bringing additional firefighting resources to the scene. Crews confirmed all occupants were out of the home and advanced hoseline inside, quickly locating and extinguishing the fire in an upstairs bedroom. Several companies performed salvage and overhaul operations to prevent further damage.

The LCFR FMO estimated damages are approximately $275,000. The home’s smoke alarms functioned as designed and alerted the occupants to the fire, allowing them time to close the door to the room of origin, get out of the house, and call 9-1-1.

Community members are reminded about the importance of using and storing lithium-ion batteries correctly. These batteries supply power to many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes, smoke alarms, construction tools and equipment, toys and even cars. If damaged, these batteries can catch on fire or explode. Visit our website to learn more about lithium-ion battery safety.

If you suspect fire is behind a door, do not open it. Fire moves fast, and a closed door can contain the fire and slow the spread until firefighters arrive. Additionally, making sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms is critical. Ensure smoke alarms are installed and work properly in every bedroom and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home and test them monthly. Not sure about your smoke alarms? LCFR offers free home safety and smoke alarm assessments; call the hotline or visit our website.