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Police & Fire
Maryland Man Accused Of Torching Jiffy Lube In Blaze Causing $225K In Damage: Officials Maryland Man Accused Of Torching Jiffy Lube In Blaze Causing $225K In Damage: Officials
Maryland Man Accused Of Torching Jiffy Lube In Blaze Causing $225K In Damage: Officials A firebug has been apprehended days after a blaze broke out in a Maryland business, causing upwards of $225,000 in damage, authorities announced. Aubrey Michelle Ellis, 57, is facing multiple charges following an investigation into a fire that broke out at Jiffy Lube in Silver Spring late last month, acco ng to a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson. At approximately 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, crews were called to Auto Sales Park in the 3200 block of Automobile Boulevard near Briggs Chaney Road, where there were reports of a fire. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Upon arrival, fir…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Virginia Man Opened Fire Out Apartment Window With Air Pistol, Police Say Virginia Man Opened Fire Out Apartment Window With Air Pistol, Police Say
Virginia Man Opened Fire Out Apartment Window With Air Pistol, Police Say An early morning shooting investigation in Virginia led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man who was randomly firing shots from an air pistol out of an apartment window, police say. Donis Manuel Chan Ajtum is facing nearly a dozen charges following a strange scene that played out early on Thursday morning, according to the Arlington Police Department. Officers responded shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 to the 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road, where there was a reported shooting. Police said that officers were flagged down by a man who had been struck by a projectile, and later located a sec…

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by Zak Failla
Business
$850K In Fire Damage Sparks Major Recall Of Power Stations $850K In Fire Damage Sparks Major Recall Of Power Stations
$850K In Fire Damage Sparks Major Recall Of Power Stations More than 25,000 portable power stations are being recalled due to fire and burn hazards. EcoFlow Technology is recalling about 25,030 EcoFlow Delta Max 2000 Model EFD310 Power Stations, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, Oct. 9. The power stations can overheat and ignite, posing a risk of fires and serious burn injuries. Six fires have been reported, causing more than $850,000 in property damage. There have been no reported injuries, according to the CPSC. The recall covers black-and-silver units with a rectangular LCD on the front and six outlets on the ba…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Set Fourth Of July Blaze Near BOE Building In Maryland, Fire Marshal Says Man Set Fourth Of July Blaze Near BOE Building In Maryland, Fire Marshal Says
Man Set Fourth Of July Blaze Near BOE Building In Maryland, Fire Marshal Says A Maryland man has been charged with sparking a Fourth of July fire just steps from a Board of Education building, investigators said. Deputy State Fire Marshals announced the arrest of Michael Gage Butler, 30, of Cumberland, who was taken into custody last Thursday by state troopers after being connected to an Allegany County blaze. The fire broke out around noon on July 4 near the Board of Education maintenance building at 211 Market St. in Cumberland.  Firefighters from the Cumberland Fire Department, with help from the Cumberland Police Department, were able to quickly knock down …

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by Zak Failla
Business
Fires, Explosions Spark Large Recall Of Wireless Power Banks Fires, Explosions Spark Large Recall Of Wireless Power Banks
Fires, Explosions Spark Large Recall Of Wireless Power Banks More than 33,000 wireless power banks are being recalled after the lithium-ion batteries caught fire and exploded, causing $20,000 in property damage. The recall affects about 24,000 ESR HaloLock power banks sold in the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, Aug. 14. About 9,900 portable chargers were sold in Canada. The lithium-ion battery in the recalled units can overheat and ignite, creating fire and burn hazards. Waymeet Limited, the Hong Kong-based distributor, has received nine reports of the batteries catching fire and exploding. N…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Dozens Of Burning, Melting Smartwatches Force Large Recall Dozens Of Burning, Melting Smartwatches Force Large Recall
Dozens Of Burning, Melting Smartwatches Force Large Recall A popular smartwatch is being recalled after dozens melted or caught fire while charging, causing burns and property damage. Deale International is recalling about 2,900 Altafit af28 smartwatches, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, Aug. 7. The watches were sold by TV shopping network HSN for about $50 from March through May 2025 for about $50. The company has received 39 reports of the watches burning while on the wireless charging pad. According to the CPSC, there have been at least six cases of burns to users' hands and property damage. The affec…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall
Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall More than 630,000 mini refrigerators sold at Walmart and Amazon are being recalled after dozens reportedly caught fire or melted. Curtis International is recalling about 634,000 Frigidaire-brand mini fridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, July 24. The internal electrical parts in the fridges can short-circuit and ignite the plastic housing, posing serious fire and burn hazards. There have been 26 reports of the mini fridges "smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating, and catching fire." Two people suffered smoke inhalation, whi…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
$1.1M Townhouse Fire In Kingstowne Caused By Spontaneous Combustion: Report $1.1M Townhouse Fire In Kingstowne Caused By Spontaneous Combustion: Report
$1.1M Townhouse Fire In Kingstowne Caused By Spontaneous Combustion: Report A fast-moving early morning blaze tore through multiple Virginia townhouses, causing more than $1.1 million in damage, fire officials said. Firefighters responded around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, to the 5000 block of Dunstable Lane in the Kingstowne area, where flames and smoke were seen pouring from the rear of several units, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. A second alarm was quickly called as crews worked to knock down the flames to prevent it from spreading, officials said. #FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a 2-alarm townhouse fire in the 5000 blk of Du…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Arsonist Torches Trucks, Damages DMV Shopping Center In Early Morning Fire: Officials Arsonist Torches Trucks, Damages DMV Shopping Center In Early Morning Fire: Officials
Arsonist Torches Trucks, Damages DMV Shopping Center In Early Morning Fire: Officials Two vehicles were destroyed and a shopping center partially damaged in an early-morning arson attack in Maryland, authorities said. Firefighters responded to a pair of vehicle fires around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, July 21, outside the Country Boy Market at the Glenmont Center on Randolph Road in Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials. The fire outside Country Boy Market in the Glenmont Shopping Center. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Crews found both vehicles ablaze, with flames extending to the exterior awning of the shopping center.  The fire outsid…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Lightning Strike Destroys Barns, Shed In $200K DMV Blaze: Fire Marshal Lightning Strike Destroys Barns, Shed In $200K DMV Blaze: Fire Marshal
Lightning Strike Destroys Barns, Shed In $200K DMV Blaze: Fire Marshal Three buildings were leveled and a garage was damaged when a bolt of lightning set fire to a Conowingo property, officials say. The fire broke out shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at a private property on the 100 block of McCauley Road, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. It happened approximately an hour after Cecil County went under a Flood Warning due to severe weather conditions. Investigators said the owners heard a lightning strike, then discovered flames spreading through several buildings on their property. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had engulfe…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
These Wedding Issues Lead To Most Insurance Claims, Travelers Says These Wedding Issues Lead To Most Insurance Claims, Travelers Says
These Wedding Issues Lead To Most Insurance Claims, Travelers Says Weddings may be getting pricier, but the biggest day of couples' lives is still getting wrecked by the same old problems, according to a new study. Travelers Insurance released its list of the most frequent wedding claims of 2024 on Monday, June 30. The Hartford, Connecticut-based provider said vendor issues were once again the top reason couples filed claims in 2024. Those problems, like DJs or florists backing out of weddings, made up 27% of all paid claims. "Soon-to-be-weds already have enough to worry about leading up to their big day," said Deidre LeBlanc, vice president of speci…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall
Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Nearly a quarter million mini fridges are being recalled due to electrical issues that can increase the chances of a fire, officials said. AstroAI is recalling 249,100 of its four-liter/six-can mini fridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Wednesday, June 18. The fridges were sold on Amazon and AstroAI's websites between 2019 and 2022 for about $40.  According to the CPSC, the fridges can short circuit, posing fire and burn hazards. At least 70 incidents have been reported, including two fires that caused over $360,000 in property damage. The fridges…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Barn Destroyed By $150K Virginia Blaze With No Hydrants In Sight: Fire Marshal Barn Destroyed By $150K Virginia Blaze With No Hydrants In Sight: Fire Marshal
Barn Destroyed By $150K Virginia Blaze With No Hydrants In Sight: Fire Marshal A Loudoun County barn burned to the ground after an electrical malfunction sparked a massive blaze that drew fire crews from multiple counties, officials said. Crews were called to the 20000 block of Airmont Road in Bluemont just after 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, where they found a 50-by-50-foot barn fully engulfed in flames, according to a Loudoun County Fire and Rescue spokesperson. With no hydrants in the area and a large column of smoke visible from a distance, crews from Round Hill, Purcellville, Philomont, Fauquier County, Clarke County, and Mount Weather rushed in, with the …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Caught Red (And White) Handed In Fairfax County Graffiti Spree, Police Say Teen Caught Red (And White) Handed In Fairfax County Graffiti Spree, Police Say
Teen Caught Red (And White) Handed In Fairfax County Graffiti Spree, Police Say A teenager with a knack for destruction is facing criminal charges after officers caught him red handed vandalizing property in Virginia, authorities said. Fairfax County police say the 16-year-old suspect is responsible for more than 50 incidents of graffiti and property damage targeting businesses and personal property across the West Springfield District. The investigation began on the morning of Wednesday, March 12, when officers were called to the 6000 block of Burke Centre Parkway after reports of hate-based graffiti appearing on multiple properties. Fairfax County Police Dep…

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by Zak Failla
News
Pets Killed, Homes Damaged: 500K Stoves Recalled Over This Fire Risk Pets Killed, Homes Damaged: 500K Stoves Recalled Over This Fire Risk
Pets Killed, Homes Damaged: 500K Stoves Recalled Over This Fire Risk Half a million electric ranges are being recalled after reports of the stoves accidentally turning on, causing fires and killing pets, officials said. LG is recalling about 500,000 stoves due to a fire hazard linked to front-mounted knobs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a news release on Thursday, Feb. 6. The recall includes LG Slide-In and Freestanding electric ranges with knobs that can be accidentally turned on by humans or pets. The issue has led to at least 86 reports of unintentional activation, resulting in 28 fires, the CPSC said. At least five fires caused exte…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
VA Burglar Found With Thousands In Stolen Merch In PA: Cops VA Burglar Found With Thousands In Stolen Merch In PA: Cops
VA Burglar Found With Thousands In Stolen Merch In PA: Cops A Pennsylvania man has been arrested in connection with a burglary at the Aeropostale store in Leesburg that robbed the business of thousands, police say. Philadelphia's Timothy Root was arrested in Lebanon County over the weekend and is being held pending his extradition back to Virginia to face multiple charges. According to a spokesperson from the Leesburg Police Department, at around 5:10 a.m. on Nov. 23, 2024, officers were called to the Leesburg Premium Outlets  Investigators found that the store had been forcibly entered, and items worth approximately $6,500 had been stolen.&nb…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Puppy's Bathroom Habits Spark Violent Domestic Dispute In Virginia: Sheriff Puppy's Bathroom Habits Spark Violent Domestic Dispute In Virginia: Sheriff
Puppy's Bathroom Habits Spark Violent Domestic Dispute In Virginia: Sheriff A heated argument over a puppy’s bathroom habits spiraled into a breaking and entering and assault incident in Stafford County, deputies said. On Sunday, Dec. 8, at approximately 11:15 a.m., deputies responded to a home on Crab Apple Drive for an active break-in involving 22-year-old Fairfax Station resident Jeremiah Goggins and a woman he was in a disagreement with. According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the victim called 911, reporting that a man she knew had broken into her home and assaulted her, and while still on the phone, dispatchers said they could hear Goggins in the b…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police
Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police A man tried to pull a fast one on members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office after alleging that he was struck by a hit-and-run driver, when, in fact, he was the one at fault.  Woodbridge resident Trent Hocog, 29, is facing charges following a strange situation that played out involving a pedestrian and SUV driver that ultimately resulted in a robbery, police say. Members of the Prince William County Police Department were called late in the afternoon on Friday, Nov. 8, where there was a reported pedestrian who was struck by a swerving driver who purportedly struck his arm in the …

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by Zak Failla
Business
John Deere Recalling 150K+ Compact Utility Tractors For Faulty Brakes: CPSC John Deere Recalling 150K+ Compact Utility Tractors For Faulty Brakes: CPSC
John Deere Recalling 150K+ Compact Utility Tractors For Faulty Brakes: Cpsc Nearly 150,000 John Deere vehicles that were sold nationwide are subject to a recall due to faulty brakes that can create a potential crash hazard, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is cautioning.  This week, the company announced a massive recall involving multiple models of their "Compact Utility Tractors," which may have a front bell crank in the brake linkage that can fail, resulting in the tractor losing its ability to stop.  The recall, impacting an estimated 147,900 tractors, was announced on Sept. 26.  To date, there have been four reports of brakes fa…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Spark From Welder, Grinder, Causes $1M In Damage At Virginia Magnet School: Fire Marshal Spark From Welder, Grinder, Causes $1M In Damage At Virginia Magnet School: Fire Marshal
Spark From Welder, Grinder, Causes $1M In Damage At Virginia Magnet School: Fire Marshal Debris from a welder inside a classroom at the Academies of Loudoun magnet school in Leesburg on Tuesday afternoon is likely to blame for the $1 million fire that broke out, officials say. At around 1 p.m. on Sept. 17, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received an emergency call from the alarm company reporting a pull-station activation at the school, an the SRO assigned to the school reported a heavy smoke area in the boiler room reported the situation a minute later. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews and several neighboring agencies responded to the scene, where they f…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Potting Soil Stored Underneath Deck At Virginia Home To Blame For $1.7M Two-Alarm Blaze Potting Soil Stored Underneath Deck At Virginia Home To Blame For $1.7M Two-Alarm Blaze
Potting Soil Stored Underneath Deck At Virginia Home To Blame For $1.7M Two-Alarm Blaze Potting soil stored underneath the deck of a Loudoun County home that spontaneously combusted caused more than a million dollars in damage, according to the fire marshal. Shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, crews from multiple jurisdictions responded to a home in the 23400 block of Virginia Rose Place in the Little River District, where they were met by a fast-moving fire with flames showing from the back of the residence. A second alarm was quickly called, bringing additional manpower to the scene of the house fire, and it took crews approximately 20 minutes - attacking from all …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Pair Accosted By Masked Men; One Shot During Armed Robbery Outside Virginia Business: Police Pair Accosted By Masked Men; One Shot During Armed Robbery Outside Virginia Business: Police
Pair Accosted By Masked Men; One Shot During Armed Robbery Outside Virginia Business: Police A violent armed robbery in Arlington is under investigation after four men targeted a pair who were walking toward an area business on Sunday morning, police say. Shortly before 6:15 a.m. on Sept. 15, shots rang out in the Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhood that resulted with one man suffering from a gunshot wound. Google Maps street view Upon arrival to the 800 block of North Glebe Road on Sunday, officers from the Arlington Police Department found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and provided aid until paramedics arrived to take him to an area hospital. He was listed in stable c…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Company Recalling 866K Spa Pumps Sold Nationwide That Pose Injury Risk, Caused Fatal Fire: CPSC Company Recalling 866K Spa Pumps Sold Nationwide That Pose Injury Risk, Caused Fatal Fire: CPSC
Company Recalling 866K Spa Pumps Sold Nationwide That Pose Injury Risk, Caused Fatal Fire: Cpsc Hundreds of thousands of AirJet and HydroJet Spa Pumps sold across the country are subject to a recall due to a fire hazard that resulted in at least one death, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  This week, CSPC and Hong Kong-based Bestway International announced that they are recalling approximately 866,000 pumps that can overheat, causing its plastic housing to ignite, increasing the risk of fire or injury. CPSC says that there have been at least three fires reportedly involving the spa pumps, including one that led to a massive house fire in January 2024 in…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Burglary Suspect Fired Shots At Occupied Vehicle Near Virginia Elementary School: Police Burglary Suspect Fired Shots At Occupied Vehicle Near Virginia Elementary School: Police
Burglary Suspect Fired Shots At Occupied Vehicle Near Virginia Elementary School: Police The man who forced his way into a woman's home in Prince William County was arrested after firing at an occupied vehicle near a Woodbridge elementary school, police say. Adam Wells, 30, is facing charges following a short-lived crime spree that started at around 11:10 p.m. on Sunday night in the 1300 block of East Longview Drive, when he was linked to a reported burglary. Police say that a 28-year-old woman - who was identified as an acquaintance of Wells - woke up to him breaking into her home and destroying property before she was able to get out of the residence before Wells fled the are…

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by Zak Failla
News
Fredericksburg CSX Train Derailment: What We Know Fredericksburg CSX Train Derailment: What We Know
Fredericksburg CSX Train Derailment: What We Know Responders were working to clear the scene of a train derailment in Fredericksburg Sunday, July 21. Fredericksburg Fire Chief Michael Jones said that the derailment involving five train cars near 420 Cobblestone Drive and collided with the garage buildings on the property, on Saturday, July 20 around 8:50 p.m. The trains took down a concrete sound wall, which damaged four garages — one being completely flattened, responders said. Two of the five cars had been removed as of Sunday morning, Jones said. No injuries were reported as no passengers were on board. Following t…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Anti-Israel Graffiti Found On 4 Loudoun County Starbucks Stores: Sheriff Anti-Israel Graffiti Found On 4 Loudoun County Starbucks Stores: Sheriff
Anti-Israel Graffiti Found On 4 Loudoun County Starbucks Stores: Sheriff Authorities in Loudoun County are investigating anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian graffiti and property damage to local Starbucks stores. According to the sheriff's office, the outside of the stores were spray painted with various words and symbols, which have since been removed or covered by store employees. Workers reported the incidents upon arriving for work Tuesday morning, May 21. LCSO promptly responded and believes all incidents are related. “Hate speech and destruction of property will not be tolerated in Loudoun County,” Sheriff Mike Chapman said. “We are actively investigating th…

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by Cecilia Levine