Bailey’s Crossroads explosion was caused by degraded power lines

A fire and explosion at a shopping center in Bailey’s Crossroads last month was accidental, investigators with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department determined.

Fire Department crews arrived at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 for a report of smoke at Build America Plaza in the 3800 block of S. George Mason Drive in the Skyline area. They found smoke inside the building but no fire.

It appeared to be a utility emergency. The building was evacuated. When one of the firefighters opened a door to the building, a ball of fire exploded out of the door. Amazingly, there were no injuries.

The fire was caused by the degradation of the underground power lines, “leading to arcing and a subsequent underground fire involving the insulation of adjacent communication lines,” investigators found. “The dramatic explosion was deemed to be a backdraft that occurred during firefighting operations.”