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An electrical event sparked a two-alarm house fire in Springfield that injured an occupant and two firefighters, killed two pets and caused an estimated $697,986 in property damage.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department crews responded to the 5900 block of Amherst Avenue at about 11 a.m. on July 27, 2025, after multiple 911 callers reported smoke coming from the rear of a home and an occupant possibly trapped in the basement.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke throughout the residence. Crews began suppressing the fire and searching the home while requesting a second alarm.
The basement occupant escaped through a broken window, and officials confirmed that everyone in the home was accounted for. One occupant was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Two firefighters received treatment for heat-related injuries.
Two pets were found dead inside the residence. Another pet had alerted the occupants to the fire, allowing them to evacuate before a smoke alarm sounded and before firefighters arrived.
Red Cross assistance was offered but declined.
A preliminary investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal determined that the fire began on the patio and was caused by an electrical event.