Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews are on the scene of a fire that apparently started the garage of a townhouse in the 11800 block of Mediterranean Court in Reston.
Firefighters were called to the scene about 4:30 p.m. and were still working to get the last of the blaze under control in the two-car garage 30 minutes later.
There did not appear to be any injuries, firefighter said, adding they would have more details later.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials say an accidental fire caused $50,000 to a restaurant at 13861 Sunrise Valley Dr. on Saturday.
Units were called to the commercial area about 9:40 p.m., where they found smoke and fire coming from Sizzling Express Deli, which is located in an office building in unincorporated Herndon.
Firefighters encountered smoke and fire coming from the first floor of the four-story building upon arrival. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and quickly extinguished the fire, officials said.
There was no one in the restaurant when the fire broke out. The alarm company called 911 after a smoke alarm activated. There were no injuries.
Damage is estimated at $50,000.
Fire investigators have determined the fire was accidental and caused by an unattended pan on a hot stove.
The head of a Reston cybersecurity firm, his wife and four grandchildren are confirmed to have died in the blaze that destroyed an Annapolis-area mansion.
Don and Sandy Pyle and their grandchildren Charlotte, Katie, Lexi and Wes Boone, who ranged in age from 6 to 8, were positively identified by the Anne Arundel County medical examiner, officials announced this afternoon.
The blaze that reduced the Pyles’ $6 million home to rubble was caused by an electrical failure that set a 15-foot Christmas tree alight within minutes, Anne Arundel County Fire and Police chief Allan Graves at a press conference. The tree had been cut more than 60 days prior to the overnight fire Jan. 19.
“When they’re dry, they burn quickly,” Graves said, noting investigators were still working to identify other factors that may have contributed to the size and speed of the accidental fire.
Fire alarms sounded in the Pyles’ home about 3:30 a.m., federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Bill McMullan said. Authorities were notified within three minutes.
“It’s a tragic accident that occurred at the absolute worst possible time — when the Pyles and their grandchildren were sleeping,” he said.
The family was previously announced to be missing, and then presumed dead.
Donald Pyle, 56, was hired last fall as chief operating officer at ScienceLogic, a Reston-based firm that monitors networks for private and government clients, including the Department of Defense.
He was remembered on his company’s website as having a “vivacious spirit, thirst for life, and love of family.”
“Humble and brilliant, Don possessed a special leadership quality that lifted others to seek accomplishments beyond what they originally thought possible,” the statement from ScienceLogic CEO David Link said.
Photo: Firefighters at home of Reston-based ScienceLogic CEO Donald Pyle. Photo via AP/Capital Gazette, Glenn A. Miller
Anne Arundel County(Md.) fire officials said Tuesday that fire continues to smolder in the lower level of the 16,000-square-foot home belonging to Donald Pyle, Chief Operating Officer of Reston’s ScienceLogic.
Pyle, 55, his wife and four grandchildren remain missing after the blaze completely destroyed the $6.2-million mansion near Annapolis early on Monday. More than 85 firefighters were called to the four-alarm fire.
Anne Arundel County fire investigator Robert Howarth said the six will remain classified as “missing and unaccounted for” until investigators see evidence that they were killed in the fire.
Investigators have not yet been able to enter the home to look for victims due to the active fire and the lack of necessary machinery to lift giant support beams that fell into the basement, Howarth said.
“They are officially missing,” he said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “We do not declare anyone deceased until we know for sure and recover evidence. … There are six people unaccounted for — and we still do not have 100 percent proof they are in the house. But the house is where we will focus [the investigation].’
Howarth said the fire is being investigated as a crime scene, mainly because there are no witnesses as to how to fire started.
Officials said there are unique challenges in searching a 16,000-square-foot home and that the investigation is more like a commercial fire investigation. They will be bringing in heavy equipment on Tuesday that will enable crews to remove and inspect debris, as well as search for victims. The investigation could take several days, department spokesman Russ Davies said.
Donald Pyle was hired last fall as chief operating officer at ScienceLogic, a cybersecurity company that monitors networks for private and government clients, including the Department of Defense.
Firefighters at the remains of home belonging to Reston-based exec Donald Pyle/Credit: NBC News via Twitter
The Chief Operating Officer of a Reston cybersecurity firm and his family are among the missing people after a four-alarm fire at his Anne Arundel County home on Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to a 3:30 a.m. alarm at the 16,000-square-foot home on Childs Point Road in Annapolis, The Washington Post reported. It took 85 firefighters several hours to control the blaze.
The $6.2 million home was purchased by Donald and Sandra Pyle in 2005, the Post reported that property records show.
Donald Pyle was hired last fall as chief operating officer at ScienceLogic, a Reston-based cybersecurity company that monitors networks for private and government clients, including the Department of Defense.
The family of six was still unaccounted for Monday evening, investigators said. Pyle was believed to have been at home with his wife and four grandchildren, WJLA reported.
Yama Habibzai, a spokesman for ScienceLogic, which is located at 10700 Parkridge Blvd. in Reston, confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that there was a fire at Pyle’s home early Monday and the case is under investigation. He said the company had no further comment.
By Monday evening, crews had to suspend the search, The Baltimore Sun reported. Crews will return to the scene Tuesday with special equipment.
The Sun also reported that fire officials said there is a chance Pyle and his family may be out of town, however they have gotten no response when trying to reach them via cell phone.
Photo: Firefighters at blaze at home of Reston-based ScienceLogic CEO Donald Pyle/Credit: AP /Capital Gazette, Glenn A. Miller
Firefighters rushed to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station Wednesday morning after smoke was reported inside.
Fairfax County firefighters responded to the station about 11:10 a.m. and found a small fire in the electrical room of the station. It was extinguished within minutes and access to the station was not closed, a department spokesman said.
What started the fire was not immediately known.
Update: Neighbors of the family at 2050 Golf Course Drive said the cat missing in Monday’s townhouse fire has been safely found.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue firefighters rescued one cat from the fire, which broke out Monday afternoon at 2052 Golf Course Drive. The fire, which is still under investigation, caused $180,000 of damage to several townhouses.
The rescued cat was given oxygen at the scene and taken to an animal hospital while firefighters tried to locate the other one.
Firefighters said at the scene that cats are likely to go under furniture in a situation such as a fire. That helps them as there is more air low to the ground.
Neighbors said the missing cat has been reunited with his owners.
Photo: Firefighter examines Marcus, who was rescued from a fire on Golf Course Drive on Monday. His feline companion was located safely on Tuesday.
A maintenance worker at Hunters Woods Fellowship House was badly burned by hot grease as he assisted a resident at the senior housing building Thursday afternoon, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials said.
Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Ryan said units were called to the building at 2231 Colts Neck Rd. about 4:30 p.m.
A resident had been cooking and smoke set off the smoke alarm. When the maintenance worker, whose name was not released, went to assist the resident, he was accidentally splashed with hot grease from the stove.
The employee was taken by medical helicopter to the burn unit at Washington Hospital Center in D.C., Ryan said. He is being treated for non life-threatening injuries.
There was no actual fire, just grease and smoke in the kitchen accident, fire officials said.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials said an off-duty Montgomery County (Md.) firefighter helped rescue residents of a Herndon home when their house was engulfed in flames on Wednesday.
Firefighters were called to the home at 12645 Terrymill Dr. about 1 p.m. and found a heavy fire in the front of the single family home. The fire was brought under control in 40 minutes, fire rescue officials said.
The firefighter is a neighbor of the Terrymill Drive residents. The neighbor, whom fire rescue did not identify, also assisted with evacuating a wheelchair bound occupant.
A total of six adult occupants and a dog have been displaced. One person was treated on the scene for a non-life threatening injury.
Fire officials say improperly discarded smoking materials caused the blaze. Damage is estimated at $350,000.
Photo: Northern Virginia Fire Buffs via Facebook
A man and his dog safely escaped from a burning townhouse in Reston Sunday afternoon.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to the fire at 1274 Vintage Place about 2:30 p.m.
Firefighters encountered smoke coming from three sides of the end unit, and fire in the basement of the two-story townhouse upon arrival, FCFD said.
The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes. There was extensive damage in the basement, laundry room, and to the ceiling and flooring above.
Firefighters said an upstairs smoke alarm alerted the lone occupant, who escaped unharmed. Two residents have been displaced and the American Red Cross is providing support.
Damage is estimated at $150,000.
Fire investigators said the fire originated in the basement laundry room. The cause of the fire is undetermined as an ignition source was not found.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials say a fire that burned two buses Thursday morning caused $20,000 of damage.
Firefighters responded to a two-bus fire about 7:20 a.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. Both county-owned Fastran buses were located in Bus Lot 5. Fastran buses are the small buses used to transport senior citizens and qualifying disabled people.
Firefighters encountered two Ford E450 buses fully involved with fire upon arrival, FCFD said. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 10 minutes. The fire originated in the engine compartment of one of the buses, and quickly ignited an adjacent bus.
There were no injuries.
According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental and caused by an unidentified mechanical failure.
Update, 10:34 a.m. Thursday — Candice Duggar says the family has some immediate needs as they are staying with her temporarily. If those wishing to contribute could help today, donations could be dropped off at 11585 Southington Lane, Herndon.
The family, who wishes to remain anonymous, needs: Pajamas (boys 10-12, girls, 10-12, women’s M-L), toiletries, pillows, blankets and towels. Gift cards to local stores are also welcome.
“She literally left her house with the clothes on her back,” says Duggar.
Original story: Two groups have organized fundraising and supply drives to help a Reston family whose home suffered extensive damage in a fire on Tuesday.
Firefighters say a candle that was accidentally knocked over in the garage sparked the blaze, which caused $260,000 in damage. The first and second floors of the townhouse at 11410 Summer House Ct., as well as the family car, were burned. The family rented the North Reston townhouse and did not have insurance.
“A Reston single mom with two young children, ages 9 and 8, lost everything they have in a house fire on Dec. 10 in Reston,” writes Candice Duggar, a family friend who started a GoFundMe page. “Her friends are trying to help he rebuild her life with the immediate need of housing, clothes and food. There is no insurance to help with expenses and everything they have left can fit in one trash bag. Please consider making a donation to help with a first month rent and security deposit, first months rent, food money, and clothes. Their car was also destroyed in the fire. Thank you for any support you can give no amount is too small.”
Duggar is hoping to raise $15,000. Go to Duggar’s Go Fund Me Page for more information and to make a donation.
Another local group, Our Love Project: Hope Restored, has organized a supply drive for the family, which needs everything from clothing (women’s size 10-12, Boy size 10-2, Girl size 10-12) to toys (Pokemon cards, Barbies), to blankets and toiletries. A complete list of supplies can be found here.
The organizer of the Hope Restored project is hoping to have relief supplies organized by this coming Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. You may drop-off your items in a drop box at 506 Sherry Ann Court, Leesburg, VA 20175 or contact them for other arrangements by emailing [email protected].
Photo: Our Love Project
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue is investigating the cause of a fire that broke out about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday at 11410 Summer House Ct. in Reston.
The fire began in the garage on the townhouse, said FCFD spokesman Jason Jenkins. There were no injuries, he added.
Flames were showing from the garage when firefighters arrived on the scene, he said.
Video of blaze can be found on this CNN iReport.
