Second Fatal House Fire in Vienna in Less Than Year

House Fire Leaves Vienna Woman Dead
by Brian Trompeter
April 14, 2009

An 81-year-old Vienna woman died after her house caught fire on April 8, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials said.

Firefighters responded at 12:50 a.m. to the single-family house fire at 911 Potterton Circle, S.W.

Upon arrival, fire crews encountered heavy fire and smoke coming from the rear and roof of the rambler-style home. Fire officials immediately sounded a second alarm, which brought more than 60 firefighters to the scene.

Firefighters quickly performed a primary search and found the deceased woman inside the home. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes.

There was no one else home when the fire broke out, and no smoke alarms were sounding in the home when firefighters arrived, officials said.

The victim, Frances Kelley, died of smoke inhalation, officials said. Her death was the county’s fourth fire fatality in 2009.

Damage to the house is estimated at $150,000. The fire apparently was accidental and was caused by an electrical anomaly in the kitchen ceiling, officials said.