Fire Officials Remind Residents About Importance of Fireplace Safety After Townhome Fire in Aldie

Just before 7:00 p.m. on the evening of Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Brambleton, Aldie, and Moorefield, as well as the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and multiple command and safety officers responded to a reported structure fire in the 41800 block of Inspiration Terrace in Aldie. Units arrived on scene and located a fire contained to the third floor in the unit of origin. A Rapid Intervention Taskforce was subsequently requested to bring additional firefighting resources to the scene. Crews conducted searches of the unit and confirmed all occupants were outside of the building.

The LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office (LCFR-FMO) investigation determined the fire was accidental, due to combustibles being placed in a gas fireplace. Two occupants and multiple animals were displaced from the unit of origin; additionally, two occupants from an adjacent unit were displaced due to water damage from the sprinkler system activation. No American Red Cross assistance was needed for any of the displaced occupants and no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Fire officials are reminding community members about the importance of using your fireplace properly. It’s important to keep fireplaces and wood stoves clean; have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire; only use seasoned wood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove. When building a fire, place logs towards the back of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate and never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire completely before leaving the house or going to bed; soak the hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home. 

For more fire prevention and life safety tips, visit our website. 

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