For Immediate Release: October 25, 2026

Media Contact: Senior Public Information Officer Taylor King at Taylor.King@alexandriava.gov or 703.472.9651

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Alexandria Fire Department has determined that the October 25 apartment fire in the 200 block of South Pickett Street was accidental and caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials.

At approximately 9:03 a.m., Alexandria Fire Department units, assisted by the Fairfax County Fire Department, responded to reports of a fire at 251 South Pickett Street. First-arriving crews encountered visible fire and smoke coming from the residential building.

The fire originated in a planter on the balcony of apartment 402 and spread into the attic and an adjacent apartment, eventually breaching the roof. Firefighters extinguished the fire and conducted extensive salvage and overhaul operations at 251 and 249 South Pickett Street.

The fire affected multiple apartments, leaving 14 uninhabitable. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to residents displaced by the fire.

The Alexandria Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation, including a scene assessment and interviews with residents. Investigators determined that the cause was the improper disposal of smoking materials. The investigation is closed.

Fire Safety Reminder: The Alexandria Fire Department reminds residents to dispose of smoking materials properly. Completely extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials in a sturdy, noncombustible container filled with sand or water. Never discard smoking materials in planters, mulch, or other combustible materials, and never leave them unattended.

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