fire department

BREAKING: Firefighters Battle Blaze in Crystal City Apartment Building

By Alex Koma

(Updated at 10:45 a.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that started in a dryer at a Crystal City apartment complex this morning (Tuesday).

Crews were called to the 1600 block of S. Eads Street around 10:30 a.m. to respond to the fire.

Firefighters have since knocked the fire down, but are still working to determine the extent of the blaze, the fire department said.

The fire does not appear to have resulted in any injuries, but the department is still urging people to avoid the area while clean-up work continues.

Photo via Google Maps

Firefighters Battle Overnight House Fire on Washington Blvd

By Alex Koma
1/2

Arlington firefighters doused a blaze in a Northwest Arlington home early this morning (Thursday).

The fire broke out at a home along the 6200 block of Washington Blvd, in the Highland Park-Overlee Knolls neighborhood, around 1 a.m.

The blaze took firefighters around an hour to put out, according to the fire department’s Twitter account. No one was inside the home when the fire started, the department added.

The county fire marshal is still investigating what caused the blaze, and first responders briefly returned to the home around noon today to continue the investigation, prompting a few road closures in the area.

Photos via @ArlingtonVaFD

UPDATED: Firefighters Extinguish Northeast Arlington House Fire

By Alex Koma

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a fire in a home in Northeast Arlington.

First responders were called to the 4000 block of Nelly Custis Drive around noon today (Thursday) to battle the blaze. The home is in the Dover Crystal neighborhood.

Smoke and flames appeared to be concentrated around the home’s basement, per scanner traffic.

Firefighters didn’t find anyone inside the home after searching it, the department said. However, they did discover a cat inside and got it to safety, where it seems to be recovering well from some smoke inhalation.

https://twitter.com/ArlingtonVaFD/status/1083418420144672769

Photo via @ArlingtonVaFD

JUST IN: Van on Fire Near Arlington Forest Church

By ARLnow.com
1/3

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Firefighters battled an intense vehicle fire today in front of the Arlington Assembly of God Church, along Route 50 in the Arlington Forest neighborhood.

Initial reports suggest that a food truck caught fire, though the vehicle was later reported to be a work van. A traffic camera showed flames and a thick column of smoke coming from the van as firefighters arrived on scene. The smoke could be seen from as far away as Crystal City.

The fire was extinguished after a few minutes and no one was injured. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause.

UPDATED: Firefighters Extinguish Northwest Arlington House Fire

By Alex Koma
1/2

(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) Firefighters extinguished a house fire in Northwest Arlington this morning.

First responders were called to a home along the 3700 block of N. Vernon Street around 10:20 a.m. today (Tuesday) in the Old Glebe neighborhood. Smoke was seen coming from the home, prompting firefighters to ask for a “Rapid Intervention Team” to be dispatched to help quickly bring the fire under control.

The fire was concentrated near the back of the home, according to the county fire department.

Department spokesman Ben O’Bryant told ARLnow that no one was inside the home when the fire broke out.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Overturned Vehicle Near Gunston — A vehicle overturned in a reported four-vehicle crash in the Long Branch Creek neighborhood yesterday afternoon. The crash happened on the 1500 block of 28th Street S., near Gunston Middle School. Two occupants of the overturned vehicle were able to get out safely prior to rescuers arriving on scene, according to initial reports. [Twitter]

Dog Rescued by ACFD — Firefighters rescued a dog named Bling from yesterday’s house fire in Lyon Park. “Medics provided oxygen to Bling with a special pet mask,” the fire department said. “Although Bling did suffer some smoke inhalation, his outlook is good!” [Twitter, Twitter]

WUSA 9 Back on Fios — After several days of being blacked out for Verizon Fios customers as a result of a fee dispute between Verizon and Tysons-based broadcaster Tegna, local CBS affiliate WUSA 9 has returned to the Fios lineup. In an email to an upset resident during the blackout, forwarded to ARLnow.com, Arlington’s cable administrator said there was nothing the county could do to help resolve the dispute. [Washington Business Journal]

Salt Dome Goes Bye Bye — “Up since 1928 when it originally held water, the old salt tank on Old Dominion is coming down this week with an interim replacement directly behind… Tanks for your service.” [Twitter]

Chamber: Amazon Will Help Arlington Grow — In a letter to its members, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce argues that Amazon’s arrival in the county will be a benefit for the local business community. “The Amazon headquarters helps us to grow back the jobs lost in the past decade,” the Chamber’s Scott Pedowitz wrote. “This development will happen across the next 12 years, which means that it will be gradual; our labor and real estate markets will not change overnight.” Amazon is only expected to bring 400-500 jobs to Arlington this year, though it plans to add 25,000 jobs in the county through 2030, the letter said. [Chamber of Commerce]

News About the News — Alexandria local news site AlexandriaNews.org has shut down after 10 years in business. Meanwhile, Sun Gazette editor Scott McCaffrey is celebrating 25 years in that position. [Sun Gazette, Twitter]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

UPDATED: Dog Rescued from Lyon Park House Fire

By Alex Koma

(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) Arlington firefighters are working to extinguish a fire in the basement of a Lyon Park home.

First responders were called to the 900 block of N. Garfield Street around 11:15 a.m. today (Thursday).

The blaze was largely concentrated in the lower level of a small duplex on the street, according to scanner traffic.

It’s unclear if any person was inside the house when the fire broke out, though a dog was removed from the house and brought to a local veterinary hospital, according to the Arlington County Fire Department. A firefighter also suffered minor injuries.

Photo via @USAUKItaly

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Christmas Closures in Arlington — “Arlington County Government offices, courts and libraries will be closed on Mon., Dec. 24 and Tue., Dec. 25, 2018, for Christmas and on Tue., Jan. 1, 2019, for New Year’s Day. Courts will also be closed on Dec. 31, 2018, and libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.” [Arlington County]

Low-Income Workers Finding Metro Alternatives — “As Metro fares have risen, hours for train service have been cut and gentrification has made it more difficult for low-income workers to live near rail stations, workers making lower wages in Washington and in Arlington have become less likely to commute by transit… down 5 percent from the previous five years.” [Washington Post]

Arlington, Alexandria Firefighters Learning Yoga — “It’s a revolutionary training course helping firefighters cope [with] stress & sleep deprivation. One firefighter who was at the Pentagon on 9/11 says it helps him deal [with] the memory of that day.” [NBC Washington, Twitter]

Rain, Flood Watch Continues — “The Flood Watch continues through this afternoon. Unseasonably warm today with showers and perhaps an isolated afternoon/evening thunderstorm.” [Twitter]

Holiday Wrapping Paper Alternatives — Local designer Beth Singer, whose firm designed the ARLnow logo, has penned a new blog post just in time for the holidays: “Five Reasons I Will Never Buy Wrapping Paper Again.” [Beth Singer Design]

Eclectic Estate Sale Near Clarendon — “Looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for that special person? Are you a collector of unusual paintings, furniture, or sculpture? A curious browser of all things uncommon and quirky? You won’t want to miss this special estate sale, this weekend in Ashton Heights.” [Team Cathell]

Nearby: Amazon’s Effect on Chirilagua — “Between Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood and the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington is a swath of land home to a vibrant Hispanic community… For many Chirilagua residents, Amazon’s arrival threatens the end of the community they love, bringing increased housing costs, new residents and creeping gentrification.” [NBC Washington]

Flickr pool photo by Erinn Shirley

BREAKING: Crystal City Building Evacuated Amid Widespread Bomb Threats

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4 p.m.) An office building in Crystal City has been evacuated after a company inside reportedly received a bomb threat via email.

Police and firefighters were first dispatched to 1919 S. Eads Street for a report of a bomb threat around 2:15 p.m. Among the building’s tenants are the Consumer Technology Association and Inside Washington Publishers.

Shortly after the initial dispatch, it was reported that the fire alarm in the building was sounding and people were evacuating.

This is the second bomb threat to prompt an office evacuation in Crystal City so far this month.

Meanwhile, another emailed bomb threat has been reported at 4300 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, headquarters to energy company AES and home to other offices and retail businesses.

News outlets are reporting that “dozens” of bomb threats have been reported at news outlets and other businesses and institutions across the U.S., though the threats are not believed to be credible. The FBI is monitoring the situation, both in the D.C. area and nationwide.

TRAFFIC ALERT: I-395 HOV Lanes Blocked by Crash

By ARLnow.com
1/2

A reported four-vehicle crash has completely blocked the HOV lanes of I-395 near Shirlington.

Police and firefighters are on scene, evaluating four people for possible injuries, according to scanner traffic.

Traffic cameras show northbound HOV traffic at a standstill past King Street.

Update at 12:20 p.m. — All lanes have reopened.

Worker Injured at Ballston Construction Site

By Alex Koma
1/4

Arlington first responders teamed up with workers at a Ballston construction site to help a worker suffering a medical emergency this morning (Monday).

Fire and rescue workers were called to the scene of the large new development at 750 N. Glebe Road around 8:30 a.m., after hearing that a person on the site needed medical attention.

Fire department spokesman Ben O’Bryant says first responders initially believed they’d need to perform a “technical rescue” to bring the person down from the construction site’s upper levels.

But he said that construction workers subsequently found “an equipment lift or an elevator,” giving first responders easier access to the patient.

O’Bryant says the person was taken to the hospital, but did not have any additional information just yet.

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