Smoke alarm saves Culmore residents
A fire in an apartment building in Culmore on Dec. 18 displaced five people, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports.
They were asleep when a smoke alarm went off at 1:30 a.m. They quickly evacuated their second-floor apartment in the 6000 block of Argyle Drive and called 911.
Investigators determined the fire originated in the living room but have not yet determined the cause. Total property loss is estimated at $81,000.
The fire department urges people to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallways outside each separate sleeping area, and on each level of the home, including the basement. Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and the batteries should be replaced once a year.
