An off-duty Fairfax County firefighter was the first to spot the fire that caused an estimated $175,000 in damage to a Fair Oaks townhouse on Wednesday morning, according to a Fairfax County Fire & Rescue blog post.
After calling 911, the firefighter knocked on the townhouse door to alert its two occupants, who were able to exit safely.
County fire and rescue units were dispatched around 6:37 a.m. to the townhouse, which was located in the 12000 block of Dorforth Drive.
When fire crews arrived on the scene, they observed smoke showing from the roof of a three-story, middle-unit townhouse, according to the blog post. They quickly located the fire on the rear deck and saw that it was extending to the roof and attic.
A second alarm was issued, bringing units from the Fairfax City Fire Department to provide assistance.