(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) Firefighters battled a major, two-alarm house fire on Malta Lane in McLean this afternoon.
The fire broke out shortly after 1:30 p.m. on the 6600 block of Malta Lane, a narrow no-outlet street on the other side of Georgetown Pike from Langley High School. Firefighters from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Montgomery County were dispatched to the scene.
Initial reports suggest arriving units found heavy fire coming from the second floor of a large home, but struggled to find sufficient water pressure from hydrants in the area to battle the flames. Water tankers were subsequently dispatched to assist.
A partial collapse of the structure was reported, according to the Fairfax County Fire Department. The unsafe conditions delayed the search for victims inside the house, but all occupants have since been accounted for.
As of 2:45 p.m., most of the fire was out but firefighters were still trying to extinguish hot spots. The home has suffered “significant damage,” according to those on scene. Thus far, no injuries have been reported.
A fireground commander said he expects firefighters to remain on scene “for an extended period of time.” The county fire marshal’s office will be investigating the cause of the blaze.
https://twitter.com/LincolnACFD/status/1081267605040783361
Update 6600 block of Malta Lane: 2nd alarm requested for alternate water supply. Large house, heavy fire throughout, with exposures. Multiple lines stretched operating. Reported partial collapse #fcfrd pic.twitter.com/6mNQRHweUs
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 4, 2019
Thanks to @ArlingtonVaFD and @mcfrs for assistance on house fire on Malta Lane in McLean. #teamwork #fcfrd #news pic.twitter.com/ISLulfHz5R
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 4, 2019
Map via Google Maps
A vehicle caught on fire and stopped two lanes of traffic on the Beltway near Tysons this afternoon.
The burning car was stuck in the left lane of the southbound side of the Beltway near the Dulles Toll Road.
The fire occurred around 1 p.m. and was the scene was cleared by 2 p.m. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
#Tysons Outer Loop near Dulles Toll Rd, vehicle fire along the left side #vatraffic #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/X1OcrdU08m
— Jerry Booth (@TrafficBooth) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/WTOPtraffic/status/1076180484525297667
Photo via Twitter
Senators Try to Intervene for Farm — “As operations wind down at Claude Moore Colonial Farm following a contract dispute between the National Park Service (NPS) and the farm’s friends group, both of Virginia’s U.S. senators are asking for an yearlong extension so the parties can try to hammer out an agreement.” [InsideNova, Patch]
Vienna Council Wants Marco Polo Demolished — “The vacated Marco Polo Restaurant fell into disrepair before it burned down Oct. 14 in a blaze allegedly set by a pair of teenage arsonists. Vienna Town Council members on Dec. 10 urged town officials to step up their efforts to have the building’s charred remains demolished and removed.” [InsideNova]
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Friday Night Fire in Merrifield — “On Friday, November 30 at approximately 11:59 p.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the City of Fairfax Fire Department were dispatched for a reported kitchen fire in the 9400 block of Lee Highway in the Merrifield section of Fairfax County.” [FCFR]
More on Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop — “Bluestone Lane plans to break into the Northern Virginia market next year at the Boro development in Tysons Corner in mid-to-late 2019… The global brand from Australia is known for its ‘avocado smash’ toast, cold-pressed juices, custom teas, and other healthy fare.” [Eater]
PSA: Don’t Illegally Park in Accessible Parking Spaces — “With the holiday shopping season underway, finding parking at shopping centers can be harder than tracking down the hottest toy of the year. As a result, shoppers sometimes illegally park in accessible spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Approximately 75,000 county residents have a disability, so it is critical that these parking spaces remain available to them.” [Fairfax County]
Winchester Woman Arrested for Vienna Assault — “Vienna police officers went to Park Terrace Court, S.E., on Nov. 5 at 1:42 a.m. after authorities received a 911 hang-up call. Police located a resident who advised she had been assaulted by her girlfriend.” [InsideNova]
Fairfax Tax Deadline Extended — “Fairfax County Government Offices will be open Wednesday, December 5. However, because Wednesday has been proclaimed as a national day of mourning to honor the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, the due date for 2018 second installment Real Estate tax payments has been extended until December 6.” [Fairfax County]
Vienna and Fairfax County Police have arrested two teen boys and charged them with a series of crimes, including setting fire to the Marco Polo restaurant.
One of the teens is a 14-year-old Vienna resident; the other is a 13-year-old Reston resident, according to police.
The boys are being charged with both felony and misdemeanor crimes, including arson. Police say other charges are being filed in relation to a Nov. 4 vandalism of two historic government-owned buildings near Lahey Lost Valley Park, which caused several thousand dollars in damage.
The Oct. 14 fire destroyed most of the Marco Polo building, which had been vacant. There were no injuries. The site is planned to be redeveloped as a retail and townhouse complex.
The teens are also charged with the vandalism of several buses in the rear parking lot of the restaurant on Sept. 9.
The pair is being held in the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center.
Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact Officer Juan Vazquez at [email protected] or 703-255-7845.
McLean Citizens Reject Ramp Closure Resolution — “After debating nearly two hours over a pair of conflicting resolutions regarding the Virginia Department of Transportation’s proposal to temporarily close an on-ramp to northbound Interstate 495 during weekday afternoon peak hours, McLean Citizens Association (MCA) board members on Nov. 7 rejected both resolutions.” [InsideNova]
Fire at Madison High School — A fire broke out in a classroom at Vienna’s Madison High School Friday night, but was brought under control by a sprinkler system. [Twitter]
Vienna Legislative Priorities — “The Vienna town government’s draft 2019 legislative agenda looks decidedly similar to ones of yore and continues to ask the General Assembly to maintain adequate state funding and not further reduce local authority.” [InsideNova]
New Retail Concept Coming to Mall — “Macerich this weekend is launching a concept known as ‘BrandBox’ at Tysons Corner Center just outside Washington, D.C., one of the most valuable shopping malls in the U.S. There, it will house six brands, including apparel retailer Naadam and makeup company Winky Lux, for six to 12 months. Each brand will have its own mini store inside an 11,000-square-foot space, with new retailers funneling in and out each year.” [CNBC, Glossy]
Opioid Epidemic Discussion in Vienna — “It might be a scary topic, but still an important conversation to have: TOV’s Club Phoenix is hosting a parent discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, on Understanding the Opioid Epidemic.” [Twitter]
One week after a fire gutted the abandoned Marco Polo restaurant on Maple Avenue, there’s still no answer for what caused the blaze.
At a Town Council meeting on Oct. 15, Vienna Chief of Police James Morris said the fire was reported around 2 p.m. on Sunday, and by 3:16 p.m. the flames under control. The building was vacant and there were no injuries in the fire, but the building itself is a complete loss.
Morris said throughout the week there have been complaints of kids hanging around gawking at the site. Even when the building was intact though, Morris said there was some unsavory activity at the site.
“The property itself has had broken windows and significant vandalism of buses in the back lot. There has been a lot of activity around that building.”
Battalion Chief Willie Bailey said it’s not uncommon for fire investigations to take over a week, with variables being size of the structure and the level of damage.
Before the fire, the building had been planned for demolition to make way for a new development approved on May 7 this year.
The site has been home to a number of buildings since 1900, but the recently-burned one had been located there since 1954. Local developer Doug D’Alexander applied to have the lot redeveloped in 2015, but a protest petition meant the Town Council would have to vote 6-1 in favor of development. In the end, the development fell one vote short.
D’Alexander returned in 2017 with a more scaled down version of the development called Vienna Market. The new development would consist of 8,200 square feet of retail space with 44 townhouse condominiums. The development was unanimously approved at the meeting.
Tysons Reporter was unable to reach D’Alexander, so the timeline for the development and the impact of the fire on redevelopment plans are currently, like the cause of the fire, still unknown.
The former Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna went up in flames Sunday afternoon.
A fire broke out in the vacant building at 245 Maple Avenue W. shortly before 2 p.m. A second alarm was sounded as firefighters worked for around an hour to get the blaze under control.
Firefighters from around Fairfax County and as far away as Arlington battled the flames. The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
Photos posted online show firefighters using ladder trucks and water cannons as heavy smoke billowed from the restaurant’s roof.
It’s unclear what caused the fire as the building was reportedly vacant. No injuries were reported.
The building has been discussed as a possible site for redevelopment, though thus far no solid plans have been revealed.
https://twitter.com/Windows95C/status/1051550180519174145
https://www.facebook.com/viennavfd/posts/10155693060136643?__xts__[0]=68.ARAUYjda7gKeVfrdl_ZHLUwm716fi9hg-hkJp8c8QMs34XAs-LvJpPGRmyX2QkPf0mJaXoD2gE-Jl96es3Tj5gKx_8vv3AifGvrIaNIPQjUVjMY8zdz1nd8icWpuou_NEZrmJmKyzopo6Rkb8IJUm3XvuEw0VMRKSC3jFo4c7jswKDwXAtFAJVA&__tn__=-R
UPDATE 200 block Maple Avenue West: The fire is under control. The structure was vacant at the time of the fire. pic.twitter.com/9J0PMOcdg7
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) October 14, 2018
Photo (top) via Vienna Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook
