More

UPDATED: Major Flash Flooding Leads to Water Rescues, Flooded Basements

Previous Image 1/6 Next Image

Updated at 1:35 p.m. — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted that firefighters rescued the driver of a box truck on Arlington Blvd near Prosperity Avenue around 9:45 a.m. 

Updated at 12:25 p.m. — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted that it has responded to 55 swift water rescue calls. 

Tripps Run has reportedly flooded into backyards and basements in the City of Falls Church.

https://twitter.com/jwhopewell/status/1148231426963210241

Updated at 12:05 p.m. — A spokesperson for the Arlington County Fire Department said that AFCD responded to a hazmat call for a flooded building with a fuel leak in the basement at Coleman PowerSports at 435 S. Washington Street in Falls Church.

Updated at 11:20 a.m. — First responders continue responding to numerous reports of flooded roads and swift water rescues.

Earlier: As flash flooding hits Fairfax County, several drivers are stranded in flooded roadways in McLean, Vienna and Merrifield.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted at 9:46 a.m. today (July 8) that units are responding to about 30 calls for swift water rescues. The fire department tweeted earlier this morning that a majority of its roughly 11 calls were in the McLean and Vienna areas.

“If you do not have to be on the roads right now – stay off,” the fire department tweeted.

Tysons Reporter spotted several cars backed up and in water along Arlington Blvd (Route 50), which was flooded by Prosperity Avenue.

Earlier today, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue got three occupants out of a car stuck in the flooded roadway at Meadowlark Road and Brookside Lane in the Wolf Trap area.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue also responded to a swift water rescue in the 6500 block of Old Dominion Drive in the McLean area and worked to rescue two occupants from the car.

https://twitter.com/JaeReaves/status/1148244995595493376

Catherine Moran and Vernon Miles worked on this story.

First photo via @SteveML9022/Twitter

0 Comments

Firefighter Taken to Hospital Following Falls Church Building Fire

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

A building fire in Falls Church ended up sending one firefighter to the hospital yesterday (Tuesday).

The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (July 2) in the 7400 block of Lee Highway, according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweet.

The accidental fire that started in the attic area by the chimney stack was discovered after the fire sprinkler system and fire alarm went off, the tweet said.

One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

The fire caused $2,500 worth of damages, according to the fire department.

Map via Google Maps, photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter

0 Comments

UPDATED: Firefighters Extinguish Attic Fire in McLean Home

(Updated at 10 a.m. 07/01/2019) A fire broke out at in the attic of a McLean home earlier this morning.

Firefighters from the Arlington County Fire Department and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at a home in the 6500 block of W. Langley Lane shortly after 7 a.m., according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweet.

Firefighters had the fire out by around 9 a.m. “Crews [are] working on removing insulation from [the] attic area,” the Fairfax County fire department tweeted.

All of the occupants of the house evacuated, and no injuries have been reported.

More from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue:

On Thursday, June 27 at approximately 7:28 a.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Arlington County Fire Department responded to a report of a fire alarm activation in the 6500 block of West Langley Lane in the McLean area of Fairfax County.

Units arrived on scene of a two-story, single family house with smoke coming from the roof. The incident was immediately upgraded to a house fire. Crews quickly advanced a fire hose line to the second floor and extinguished a fire that had spread to the attic. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

No occupants were home at the time of the fire. A monitored smoke alarm system activated prompting the alarm company to call Fairfax County 9-1-1.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental in nature and started in the second-floor hallway bathroom. The fire was caused by an electrical malfunction within the electrical wiring supplying the bathroom canister lights.

No occupants were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was not needed. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $37,500.

Map via Google Maps

0 Comments

County Fire Department Sharing Memories as 70th Anniversary Nears

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue is sharing some of its history as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Samuel Redmond was the first of the 10 career firefighters hired in 1949, according to a fire department post. Redmond was issued badge #1 and assigned to Station 1 in McLean.

More from the post:

In 1949, the Board of Supervisors approved the hiring of firefighters for each of the volunteer stations. In addition, they approved the installation of a central fire alarm system so Police dispatchers “would dispatch the engines from the department or departments nearest the fire and this would eliminate a great deal of confusion.”

On July 1, 1949, the first 10 career firefighters were hired at an annual salary of $2,500… Career firefighters were called “paid men” and served primarily as daytime apparatus drivers. The various chiefs of the volunteer departments would choose the personnel who would be hired by the County and ultimately work for their departments. This practice would continue for many years. As members of their respective volunteer departments these firefighters responded to “after hours” calls from their homes.

The fire department also shared a video of Sgt. Vincent Guidi, a member of the original “Paid Brigade” hired in 1949, sharing memories from his career at the fire department.

Now 70 years later, FCFRD is the largest fire department in Virginia with approximately 1,400 career firefighters, 170 civilians and 370 operational volunteers, according to the fire department.

First image via Google Maps, second image via FCFRD

0 Comments

UPDATED: Firefighters Extinguish Merrifield House Fire

Previous Image 1/4 Next Image

Updated at 8:45 a.m. on 6/12/19 — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue has determined the fire was accidentally started in the knee wall space of the second-floor master bedroom by electrical malfunction involving the wiring circuitry to the HVAC unit. 

From the fire department:

One worker was present inside the house, and several workers were outside, when the fire was discovered. The worker inside noticed electrical arcing from the main electrical panel. 9-1-1 was then called. Smoke alarms were present but did not alert due to the location of the fire… The house was vacant at the time of the fire. Red Cross assistance was not needed. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $75,000.

Earlier: Firefighters have extinguished a fire that broke out in the attic of a Merrifield home.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted at 11:52 a.m. today (June 4) that firefighters were on the scene of the fire in the 2900 block of Cedarest Road.

The fire department then tweeted at 12:22 p.m. that the attic fire is now out.

A spokesperson for the fire department told Tysons Reporter that everyone in the house is OK and that the fire likely started in the attic area and spread up through the roof.

“Crews are performing gross decontamination cleaning on personnel to wash contaminates/potential carcinogens off firefighters’ gear,” the fire department tweeted at 12:48 p.m.

Catherine Moran and Vernon Miles worked on this story.

Map via Google Maps

0 Comments

Tysons East Fire Station Construction to Start Soon

The new Scotts Run Fire and Rescue Station 44 in Tysons East is scheduled to move into construction soon.

“Construction of the Scotts Run Fire Station (Tysons East) will begin this summer,” Laurie Stone, the planning section manager for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, said. “Per the proffer terms, Cityline — the developer — should deliver the completed fire station to the county by Dec. 31, 2020.”

The station is designed to relieve the overburdened Fire Station 29, which currently covers the entire Tysons area. The station recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, where much of the discussion centered on the challenges of being the only station covering the increasingly dense Tysons.

The new station is being designed and constructed by Cityline Partners LLC, which is developing the Scotts Run Station South project. Construction of the fire station was part of a proffer for the mixed-use development.

Plans show the fire station as a two-level, three-bay station on Old Meadow Lane.

Image via Samaha Associates

0 Comments

Fairfax County Board Set to Consider Drone Program Approval Tomorrow

Fairfax County is getting closer to developing a program for the police, fire and emergency response agencies to use unmanned aircraft.

The county’s Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider tomorrow (Tuesday) approving the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program, which proposes to incorporate drones into government operations with a particular focus on public safety.

“A UAS program would provide enhanced operational capability, safety, and situational awareness for first responders, other staff or volunteers, affiliated partners, and the community,” according to the draft agenda for the county board meeting.

The draft notes that unmanned aircraft are able to operate in possibly hazardous environments that could harm first responders.

Some examples of drone usage include:

  • search and rescue
  • damage assessment
  • fire incident/scene management and investigations
  • hazardous materials responses
  • geospatial data acquisition

Drones would not be used to conduct unauthorized surveillance activities or to harass individuals, the draft says.

The proposal was first brought up last year and the Board of Supervisors directed staff to conduct community outreach on the proposal. After several task force meetings on the proposal and half of a dozen public meetings, the proposal is now seeking the Board of Supervisors’ approval.

If the program is approved, staff would apply for an FAA Certificate of Authority (COA) to comply with federal requirements and also create a steering committee for oversight of the program.

Fairfax County falls under the “No Drone Zone” that placed restrictions on flying unmanned aircraft after 9/11 and requires FAA authorization within a 15-mile radius from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The fire and police departments and Office of Emergency Management would initially receive about six to eight unmanned aircraft — costing the agencies about $3,500 per drone, according to the draft.

Photo via Flickr/Joe Loong

0 Comments

Taste of Vienna to Showcase Restaurant Offerings This Saturday

This Saturday, the 8th annual Taste of Vienna will offer bites of food from various local restaurants and chains.

More than a dozen restaurants are signed up for the event, including:

Food trucks will also serve up food and drink, from desserts by Captain Cookie and The Milkman to Thai food by Tuk Tuk.

Admission to the festival is free, and guests can purchase food and drink there or via a variety of ticket packages that include tokens for drinks and a commemorative pint glass. Discount drink and food packages will be on sale until midnight tomorrow (April 25).

The event helps raise money for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VVFD), which hosts the event.

Rain or shine, Taste of Vienna will take place from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the VVFD parking lot at 400 Center Street S.

Photo via Facebook

0 Comments

Tickets on Sale for Upcoming Taste of Vienna

Tickets are now on sale for the 8th annual Taste of Vienna, a showcase of the town’s dining options hosted by the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VVFD).

The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the VVFD (400 Center St. S). The event is planned to be held rain or shine.

Admission to the festival is free, with guests able to purchase food and drink there or via a variety of ticket packages that include tokens for drinks and a commemorative pint glass.

All proceeds from the event go to support the VVFD.

Photo via Facebook

0 Comments

BREAKING: Inner Loop Closed Due to Tanker Truck Crash

Previous Image 1/3 Next Image

Update at 3:55 p.m. — Tow crews are on scene and one far left lane is now temporarily squeezing by the crash, but VDOT says it will soon completely close the highway again. The closure, which is expected to last throughout the rush hour, is causing serious traffic issues across the area.

The Inner Loop of the Beltway is closed for an extended period of time due to a truck crash prior to the American Legion Bridge.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue say the tanker truck, which overturned on northbound I-495 near the Great Falls exit, is “actively leaking” 8,500 gallons of hazardous fluid, initially reported to be fuel.

Hazmat crews are “aggressively” working to contain the leak, but the Inner Loop is expected to remain closed for at least two hours and possibly longer, well into the evening rush hour.

Only one minor injury was reported.

The crash was caught on a dashcam, per a video posted on social media.

https://twitter.com/LAMillennium/status/1111345425087385601

More from social media:

0 Comments
View More Stories
×

Subscribe to our mailing list