A Friday afternoon house fire in Leesburg—traced back to an overheated extension cord and space heater—has Loudoun fire officials urging residents to take basic safety precautions as temperatures start to drop.
The fire broke out just before 1:30 p.m. on October 3 on Mayfair Drive NE. Firefighters from multiple stations, including Leesburg, Lansdowne, Hamilton, and Ashburn, responded to the scene. When they arrived, heavy smoke and flames were visible from the first floor of a three-story duplex.
Crews confirmed everyone had made it out safely and were able to knock down the flames quickly, preventing the fire from spreading further. Firefighters also worked with Loudoun County Animal Services to find three cats inside—thankfully, all unharmed. No injuries were reported.
The fire was confined to an upstairs bedroom, but it left behind serious damage. Investigators from the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the blaze started when a space heater plugged into a light-duty extension cord overheated, sparking a fire that spread to nearby furniture and materials.
The fire caused about $65,000 in direct damage, with another $15,000 in smoke damage to the adjoining unit.
Chief Fire Marshal Micah Kiger said the cause was preventable.
“In this instance, a light-duty extension cord was used to connect a space heater to an outlet,” Kiger explained. “The cord overheated, quickly igniting nearby combustibles and starting the fire.”
Now, with colder months around the corner, local fire officials are sounding the alarm.
“As we move into fall and winter, we want to warn residents of the dangers associated with electrical fires and the use of certain heating appliances,” Kiger said.
Officials are urging residents to plug space heaters directly into wall outlets and never use extension cords or power strips. Space heaters should also be kept at least three feet away from anything flammable, and turned off when unattended or while sleeping.
The three adult residents and their cats have been displaced from the home.
