<sh>House Fire Displaces Family of Four
<bt>The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office and the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office are currently investigating a fire that destroyed a Purcellville home on the morning of Tuesday, April 2.
Just before 5 a.m., Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Services received a 9-1-1 call for a structure fire in the 400 Block of Rockburn Court in Purcellville. Fire and rescue personnel from Purcellville, Hamilton, Round Hill and Philomont responded to the scene. Upon arrival at the Rockburn residence, firefighters discovered heavy fire coming from the rear of the house. The fire was spreading quickly into the attic and through the roof.
Initially, firefighters began to attack the fire from inside the home. Due to the extent of the fire, however, firefighters were forced to abandon the interior attack and fight the fire from outside the structure. The cause of the fire, which destroyed the single-family home, is still under investigation.
Although no injuries were reported, the family dog died in the fire. The family of four, who were home when the fire started, has been displaced. The American Red Cross was contacted and is assisting with temporary housing.
<sh>Students Evacuated Due to April 4 Fire
<bt>The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating a fire that occurred April 4 at Douglass Community Center and School, 407 East Market Street in Leesburg.
Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Services received a 9-1-1 call around 11:26 a.m. for a structure fire at the Douglass Community Center and School. Fire and rescue personnel from Leesburg, Hamilton, Ashburn and Loudoun Rescue responded to the scene.
On arrival, fire personnel were able to bring the small fire that was located in a bathroom and adjacent storage closet under control in a matter of moments.
Damages from the fire, which were confined to the bathroom and closet, were minimal. In addition, one wing of the building received slight smoke damage. Members of the Loudoun County Public School system who were in attendance were already out of the building when fire personnel arrived on the scene. The 120 students and 30 staff members were taken to the Douglass Support Facility where they were fed lunch and remained for the rest of the school day.
Twenty-two preschoolers and six staff members of a Loudoun County Parks and Recreation program were also in the building. Students and staff were evacuated to the playground area. The preschoolers and staff were allowed to return to their portion of the building since it was not harmed during the fire.
<sh>Waste Collecting Event a Success
<bt>Nearly 500 county residents participated in a record-breaking Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event at Evergreen Mill Elementary School in Leesburg. The Loudoun County's Office of Solid Waste Management arranged the March 16 event. One hundred and forty 55-gallon drums of HHW were collected for recycling or disposal. The number one item brought to this event was paint, both latex and oil-based. The county collected approximately 2,035 gallons of paint, enough paint to cover the exterior of the White House 3.5 times.
The next HHW collection event will take place April 20, from 9-3 p.m. at Park View High School in Sterling. Participation is free. For more information or a schedule of the HHW collection events, call the Loudoun County Recycling Hotline at 703-771-5318 or visit www.loudoun.gov/oswm/hhw.htm.
<sh>Environment Hearing Calls for Speakers
<bt>The Commission on the Future of Virginia's Environment will host a public hearing on Monday, April 29, at 2 p.m., in the Senate Room A of the General Assembly Building in Richmond. The commission is charged with examining the status of Virginia's natural resources/environmental programs and their funding and it is requesting the public to suggest natural resource/environmental issues that the Commission should examine as part of the work plan for the year. The Commission is composed of 10 members of the General Assembly, seven citizens and the Secretary of Natural resources. Those persons wishing to speak during this public hearing may register in advance by calling Patty Lung, Senate Clerk's Office, at 804-698-7450. For more information, call Martin, Farber, Sue Bulbulkaya or Jeff Gore at the Division of Legislative Services at 804-786-3591.