One person is dead and another is in critical condition after a fire in an Arlington home that had “hoarding conditions” inside, according to firefighters.
The fire was reported at a home on the 2600 block of S. Grant Street, in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood near Crystal City, around 9 p.m. Sunday.
“Units are dealing with hoarding conditions,” an Arlington County Fire Department spokesperson said as firefighting operations were still underway.
One person was brought out of the home, treated by medics and transported to Virginia Hospital Center. A second person was located in the home and later pronounced dead.
Update at 2:30 p.m. — Arlington County has released the following press release about the investigation into the house fire.
One person is dead and another critically injured after a house fire last night at 2623 S. Grant St.
Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) crews arrived on the scene shortly before 9 p.m. to find dark smoke coming from all levels of the single-family home and flames on the first floor.
After neighbors reported that the two residents of the home were unaccounted for, crews had difficulty entering through the front door because of hazardous hoarding conditions inside.
Widespread clutter in the home not only delayed search, rescue and suppression efforts but was also found later to be a factor in spreading the flames.
Both victims were ultimately located on the first floor and removed from the home. The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes.
An adult male was pronounced dead at the scene and an adult female was transported to the Virginia Hospital Center in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Some 60 firefighters responded to the blaze, including personnel from Alexandria Fire Department, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Emergency Services and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue.
ACFD fire marshals are investigating the origin and cause of the blaze and have been unable to confirm the presence of any working smoke alarms in the home.
Smoke alarms provide vital early warnings, increasing time for escape and the chances of surviving a fire.
ACFD urges you to:
- Install smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom of a home
- Test alarms every month by pushing the test button
- Change the batteries in alarms twice a year, at the beginning and end of daylight savings time
- Replace all alarms every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- Contact ACFD for assistance testing your smoke alarms or to request a free smoke alarm installation
- Ensure every person in your home knows and practices a home escape plan: pay special attention to those needing help evacuating; have two ways out of every room; get low; close doors behind you; go to a family meeting place; and once outside, stay outside
- Get help for hoarding situations: Arlington County has a Hoarding Task Force to assist in eliminating the hazards that stem from hoarding and to protect the community at large
The time to take steps to make a home safer is right now.
Photo via ACFD
