Frederick County Fire and Rescue crew called in to assist.
Photo from Loudon County, Va. Fire Marshals’ Office.
Lovettsville, VA – At approximately 9:51 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units from Lovettsville, Lucketts, Purcellville, and Hamilton, as well as Frederick County, Maryland, were dispatched to a reported garage fire in the 13300 block of Downey Mill Road in Lovettsville. Upon arrival, crews encountered an active fire on the exterior of the garage. The first arriving crew quickly extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to the interior of the structure. Fire and rescue personnel worked for approximately 30 minutes to complete overhaul operations and extinguish any remaining hotspots.
The LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office (LCFR FMO) investigation determined the fire was accidental due to the spontaneous combustion of improperly discarded oily rags. Damages are estimated at $80,000. There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries.
Community members are reminded to properly dispose of all combustible materials. All oil-soaked rags and brushes should be disposed of in a sealed, air-tight container to decrease concerns related to spontaneous heating. Never pile rags, brushes, or rollers together, rather lay them flat on an exterior surface and allow them to completely dry before disposing through normal means. For more information about fire prevention and life safety, visit our website.