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Fire Safety at Home

October 4, 2010 By Doug Francis

Diagram of where to put smoke alarms. The top ...

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As I sat reading The Washington Post with my fresh cup of coffee about a dozen years ago, I came across an article about a townhouse fire in Falls Church VA on Dominion Way. It had been the evening before, and I thought about the fact that some of my real estate clients lived on Dominion Way.

“Jeepers, I wonder if they saw the fire?” I thought.

So I drove over to check out the situation, only to see yellow police tape around their front door. As I walked up, it was obvious that the neighbor’s townhouse was really damaged and there was still a thick smoke scent in the air.

As it turned out, their neighbor had placed hot coals on his deck which ignited the bag and a three-alarm fire. My client’s house had extensive water damage (from the FD) and heavy smoke damage, but had escaped most of the fire thanks to the firewall between the units.

Luckily, they were okay…

They were both okay but their house was a mess and their lives were upside down living in an apartment for six months. Yes, their homeowner’s insurance covered the cost of repair and the apartment (always get good insurance).

  • Make sure you have working smoke detectors at least on every level
  • Have a working fire extinguisher
  • Plan an escape route, and a meeting place outside the home
  • Dial 911 if you even suspect your home is on fire (fires double in size every minute)
  • Replace Fire/Smoke Alarms every 10 years
  • Test your smoke alarms this weekend!

Early October is always Fire Prevention Week and I encourage all of you to read through their site and be prepared to contain a fire or escape a fire in an emergency.

Vienna, VA and McLean, VA Fire Station usually have tours, but not in 2020

  • Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street S, Vienna VA 22180 (more info)
  • McLean Volunteer Fire Department, 1455 Laughlin Ave, McLean VA 22101 (more info)
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Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: 22101, 22180, 22182, Falls Church Virginia, town house, Vienna Virginia, Washington Post

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he "starred" in a tech commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Being able to guide my clients through many real estate sales, either moving out, moving in, or just across town, has been a rewarding experience that helps when discussing a plan with a future client.

Being able to help them focus and understand our proven sales plan always eases their anxiety of this looming personal task. And, putting it into bite-sized steps always helps them get where they really want to be.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the town tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing ~ and my marketing starts here. My elite clientele has been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients now.

Thanks for reading... and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or send me an email at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

Office: 703-319-3344
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