Poag St Fire Fairfax County 2/8/2020

On February 8, 2020 a large fire broke out near Route 1 and South Kings Highway on Poag St. in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County. Many sources of information are available to describe events, units and the heroic actions of firefighters from multiple jurisdictions to contain and preserve life and property – search “poag street alexandria va fire”

Below is just one account of one part of the overall incident from units of GSVFD / Fairfax Station 22 Career and Volunteers that had responded to the incident. All photos are credit of Andrew Pang and SunJin Hunt.

This was a seemingly small but critical decision by E422B / E422 crew – cut down a tree and fencing to allow E422B fireside hydrant access and E422 to lay hose that ultimately provided water critical in saving the town-homes. Tiller 208, Truck 422, and Tower 424 eventually came through this point to operate their ladder pipes eventually stopping the fire from destroying the occupied town-homes.

Fire access cutout made by E422B & E422 crews to get units and water in

E422 entering cut-out to lay hose

Only access to fire scene from this side of event

Tower 424 entering cut-out

Tiller 208 getting ready to enter cut-out for access to fire

Tiller 208 and E422B

: View from Kingstown

: View from South Kings Highway

: View from South on Route 1

: On Route 1 side road

: View from Firestation 11

: Fire access cutout made by E422B & E422 crews to get units and water in

: This cut out access allowed construction vehicles and homeowners to get vehicles out so fire apparatus could get in as the deadend was full of cars blocking access