Marl-Pat Drive House Fire Deemed Accidental

The Fairfax Couny Fire and Rescue Department have determined that Monday night's house fire at 3005 Marl-Pat Drive was accidental, according to a recent news release. The preliminary cause of the fire was an unidentified electrical source in the laundry room.

The fire department received a call about the fire at the single family home around 7:35 p.m. Monday, and when firefighters arrived at the scene, they encountered smoke and fire in the basement. Firefighters located the seat of the fire in the laundry room. However, the fire had also spread to the rear wall of the house.

Firefighters performed an aggressive fire attack and had the fire out in about 15 minutes, although Monday night's gusty winds challenged firefighting efforts, according to the news release.

Two adults and two children escaped from the home before firefighters arrived. Red Cross assistance was offered but declined by the occupants of the home. No injuries were reported during the incident, according to the news release.

The fire department estimated the damages at about $60,000.

An accidental electrical fire also occurred Sunday at the Friendly's Rent-A-Car in the Mount Vernon area.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue offers the following electrical safety tips:

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If your power goes out a lot or the lights in your home flicker, smell bad, or make noise, have an electrician come in to inspect your wiring.   
• The electrical outlet in the bathroom should have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).  This is a tool that protects you from dangerous shock when water and electricity come together.  An electrician can install a GFCI for you.
• All electrical outlets and switches should be covered by “face plates.”
• When possible, avoid the use of “cube taps” and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Inspect electrical cords to make sure they are in good condition.
• Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
• Don’t tie or knot electrical cords.
• Don’t let furniture sit on electrical cords.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.