Discarded Smoking Materials Started Centreville Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department investigators have determined that was accidentally set by improperly discarding smoking materials.

Officials offered the following advice for properly disposing of cigarettes, cigars and other smoking materials:

• Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away as they can smolder and cause a fire.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays with a center support for smokers. Check furniture for any dropped ashes before going to bed. Empty ashes into a fireproof container with water and sand.
• Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn (i.e., mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.).
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used.
• If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires. 
• To prevent a deadly cigarette fire, you must be alert. You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach.

The fire caused $750,000 in damage, officials estimated. The family is also still searching for two cats, an orange tabby named O'Malley, and a small black cat named Willow. They believe that the animals are still on or near the property, though, and are setting out live traps to try and catch them.