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Fire chief: Loudoun responded to more than 10,300 incidents in the quarter; several large residential fires caused millions in damage
Summary
Loudoun County Fire & Rescue reported 10,358 incidents in the quarter (about 7,500 EMS calls and 2,800 fire-related), detailed four major residential incidents with estimated damages up to $2.7 million, and described a Sterling three-alarm fire that resulted in one fatality and an arrest.
Chief Travis Pro delivered the Combined Fire & Rescue System's quarterly significant incident report on Feb. 3, saying the system responded to 10,358 incidents during the period, including roughly 7,500 emergency medical calls and 2,800 fire-related incidents.
Chief Pro singled out several high-cost residential fires: an Oct. 3 space-heater fire on Mayfair Drive estimated at $65,000 in damage (plus $15,000 smoke damage to an adjoining unit); an Oct. 20 unattended candle fire with about $450,000 in damage; a Nov. 15 lithium-ion battery failure that caused an estimated $1.25 million in damage on Kipphardt Drive; and a Dec. 6 electrical-panel failure that resulted in approximately $2.7 million in damage on Loyalty Road in Leesburg. The chief noted that firefighters reported no civilian injuries in some of these incidents and that in one response a firefighter received minor medical care.
The presentation also recounted an Oct. 24 three-alarm residential fire in Sterling that led to one fatality and subsequent arrest. The victim was identified in the report as Madeline Samantha Acres, 36; an arrest followed (78-year-old Jacob Bogatin was taken into custody on Oct. 28 on charges that include felony murder and burning an occupied dwelling, according to the county Fire Marshal's Office and Sheriff's Office).
Beyond emergency responses, the Fire & Rescue presentation noted outreach and resilience efforts: the system collected more than 4,400 toys in its Heroes for the Holidays drive, raised over $3,700 for partner nonprofits, collected more than 1,361 coats and winter items in a coat drive, advanced leadership and regional training programs, and highlighted the Emergency Communications Center achieving an international Center of Excellence accreditation.
Chief Pro closed by inviting questions and reaffirming the importance of bystander CPR, safe charging practices for lithium-ion batteries and prompt reporting of gas odors to 911.
What's next: staff will continue quarterly reporting; the Fire Marshal's Office is investigating incidents listed and will provide updates as investigations conclude.
