The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office (LCFR-FMO) investigation into yesterday’s house fire in the 22,000 block of Cambridgeport Square determined the fire was accidental, caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

At 4:19 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center began receiving 911 calls for a structure fire in an Ashburn townhouse. Fire and rescue units from Moorefield, Arcola, Ashburn, Dulles South, and Cascades, as well as Fairfax County, responded along with multiple command and safety officers. Upon arrival, crews found a four-story townhouse with fire and smoke coming from the rear and roofline of the structure. A Rapid Intervention Team Task Force and a second alarm were requested to bring additional firefighting resources to the scene.

Crews used hoselines to extinguish the fire in the rear and aerial master streams to attack the fire that had spread to the attic and roof. Additional hoselines were used to cool and protect nearby homes. Searches of the townhome and neighboring residences were negative, and all residents were located safely outside. Once the bulk of the fire was extinguished crews began overhaul and salvage operations to check for fire spread and minimize property damage.

There were no injuries to civilians or first responder personnel. Additional support resources did respond to the scene to provide active cooling and rehabilitation services to support firefighters in the extreme heat.

Four occupants were displaced and did not require assistance from the American Red Cross. Smoke alarms and sprinklers were present and functioned as designed. The townhouse sustained significant damage with two neighboring homes also affected but deemed safe to occupy. LCFR-FMO determined the fire originated on the fourth-floor balcony of the middle unit townhouse as a result of improperly discarded smoking materials and estimated the damages at $1,026,000.

Improperly discarded smoking materials are a leading cause of residential fires in Loudoun County, but they are preventable! Since January of 2026, smoking materials have already caused more than $4.2 million in damages to Loudoun homes and displaced entire families. If you smoke, be sure to follow a few simple safety guidelines:   

• Smoke outdoors and dispose of smoking materials in a deep, sturdy ashtray placed on a stable surface that won’t tip over.
• Always make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished. Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before discarding them, as hot ashes can smolder for several days.
• Never use plastic, potted plants, mulch, grass, leaves, or any flammables to put out smoking materials.
• Keep containers away from any building structures. Never place them on porches, decks, or directly outside doors.

For more information on fire prevention and life safety, visit loudoun.gov/fireprevention or contact Public Education Manager Lisa Montalvo at [email protected] or call 571-258-3111.