STERLING, Va. — A warehouse fire in Sterling, Virginia, has been ruled an accident. On Tuesday, the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the cause of the fire was due to smoke material being discarded improperly.
A large thick black smoke could be seen bellowing the skies across parts of the DMV on Monday. At 3:08 p.m., the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls for a fire in the 100 block of Acacia Lane in Sterling.
The fire was so large that units from Kincora, Moorefield, Cascades, Sterling Park, Ashburn, Fairfax County, and DC Fire and EMS were all sent to help. When officials arrived they found a large warehouse engulfed in flames with fire shooting through the roof.
The fire was difficult to extinguish due to stored materials burning and the size of the warehouse. After two hours of fighting the flames, firefighters were able to get the fire under control.
There were no civilian-reported injuries. One firefighter was evaluated at the scene for minor injuries. Damages are estimated at $2,250,000.
Loudoun County Fire Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding the community about the importance of properly discarding all smoking materials. Fires like these are preventable by following a few tips:
- If you smoke, do so outside.
- Ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished, every time.
- Ensure smoking materials are discarded in appropriate containers and clean them often. Never use plastic, potted plants, mulch, grass, leaves, or anything that can burn to extinguish smoking materials. Remember that mulch, potting soil, etc. is combustible and will burn quickly when exposed to heat.
- Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Hot ashes can smolder for days.
- Use a deep, sturdy ashtray and be sure it is placed on a surface where it will not tip over.
- Place containers away from any structure. Never place containers on front porches, decks, or just outside the door.
- Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace units as specified by the manufacturer’s instructions.
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