Investigators from the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) have concluded their investigation into the cause of a house fire on Paramount Place in Chantilly on Monday, May 2, 2022. The cause has been attributed to an electrical anomaly in the homes electrical wiring. The fire which caused $1.67 million dollars in damage has been ruled accidental. There were no reported injuries to civilians or first responders.
May is National Electrical Safety Month. National Electrical Safety Month works to raises awareness around potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical fire safety. Here are some important electrical safety tips to help protect you and your family:
- Keep your home’s electrical system in good repair. Contact a licensed electrician if you have flickering lights, sparks, non-functioning outlets, or need wiring repairs or upgrades.
- Residents should have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician, including scheduling electrical inspections when buying or remodeling a home.
- Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have:
- Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
- A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
- Discolored or warm wall outlets
- A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
- Flickering or dimming lights
- Sparks from an outlet
- If you notice a possible electrical issue in your home, it is recommended you turn off the main or master switch in your circuit panel until a qualified electrician has fixed the issue. When in doubt, call 911 for assistance!
LCFR would like to remind everyone that fire moves fast. You may only have three minutes or less to escape once a fire starts in your home. A few simple acts can save your life in the event of a home fire:
- Have working smoke alarms. Remember that smoke alarms are your first defense against home fires, protecting you and your family 24 hours a day.
- Have and practice a home escape plan to ensure everyone knows two ways out of the home.
- Have a pre-designated meeting place to allow everyone to know who made it out safely.
- Close the doors in your home. Closed doors slow the spread of fire.
If your smoke alarms are not working, are over ten years old or if you have questions about your smoke alarms, LCFR can help! The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Smoke Alarm Program offers home safety inspections and smoke alarms to Loudoun County residents at no charge. Visit www.loudoun.gov/smokealarms or call 703-737-8600 for more information.
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