Unattended pot on a stove causes house fire

House fire started in the kitchen. [FCFRD]

A house fire in the 3200 block of Nealon Drive in the Falls Church area of Mason District Nov. 30 was caused by the ignition of cooking oil from an unattended pan left on the stove, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. 

When fire units from the Fairfax County, Arlington County, and City of Fairfax arrived at the one-story, single-family home at about 9:20 a.m., fire was visible on the roof. 

The fire spread to the attic. [FCFRD]

There were no injuries. A neighbor alerted the two occupants who were at home at the time that smoke was coming from the attic. There were smoke alarms in the house but they weren’t working due to a lack of batteries. 

Damages were estimated at $162,500. Five occupants were displaced. They declined assistance from the Red Cross.