A devastating Loudoun County house fire last week caused $1.2 million in damages. Now, neighbors are trying to help the impacted family by collecting clothing and gift card donations, ABC7 reported.
The fire on Saturday, November 15, was caused by a charging lithium battery from a remote-control toy car. Firefighters from Lansdowne, Ashburn, Moorefield, Kincora, and Leesburg responded to the fire at the 19000 block of Kipheart Drive in Lansdowne.
One person was evaluated on the scene for a minor injury, and one firefighter had non-life-threatening injuries. The two residents were displaced and are receiving aid from the American Red Cross, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR).
According to ABC7, neighbors Andrea Vaccarelli Landis and Becki Pisciotta are working to organize donations for the family who lost their home. Vaccarelli Landis said that they had put bins outside where people could leave clothes and gift cards.
Gift cards are especially important, Pisciotta told ABC7, because “they don’t have a place to put a lot of things at the moment.”
Loudoun County fire officials urge the importance of using lithium-ion batteries safely. “These batteries supply power to many kinds of devices, and if damaged, can catch on fire or explode,” LCFR said. “Make sure to only use the battery that is designed for the device and never allow the battery to charge while unattended, or near anything that can catch fire. Stop using or charging any batteries immediately if you notice an odor, too much heat, a change in color, or odd noises.”
Feature image courtesy Loudoun County Fire & Rescue/X
