Fire Causes $130,000 Damage

Fire officials say an early-morning fire last week caused an estimated $130,000 damage to a Fair Oaks home. According to fire investigators, the blaze was accidental and was caused by a bathroom exhaust fan.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded last Wednesday, Jan. 11, around 11:15 a.m., to a single-family townhouse at 12207 Apple Orchard Court. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from the eaves and attic.

They conducted an aggressive attack by gaining access to the attic and quickly extinguishing the bulk of the flames. Firefighters also undertook extensive overhaul and salvage operations to ensure that the fire hadn’t spread to concealed areas.

As crews extinguished hot spots in the attic, considerable damage to roof trusses and the ceiling was discovered. No one was home when the fire broke out, but three adults and a dog were displaced.

Water Conservation Workshop

The Home Water Conservation Workshop will be presented by Transition Centreville & Clifton on Monday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.

Stephen Vandivere will show how to install and use rain barrels. John Steinbach will describe his experiences with drip-irrigation gardening. And biologist Jackson Harper will talk about acquiring and purifying water during emergencies.

Help Find New County Executive

Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin will retire in

April and a national search to replace him will begin soon. The county is seeking public input via a survey available now through Jan. 23. Go to

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cex/search/.

Sully District Council Meeting

The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations and its Land-Use Committee will meet Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes, evenings, at 703-904-0131.

Local law-enforcement personnel will talk about public safety in Fairfax County. Speaking will be 1st Sgt. Neil Johnson, area commander, Virginia State Police; PFC R. Wayne Twombly, crime prevention officer, Fair Oaks District Station; PCA Peter Katinsky, Sully District Station; and Lt. Col. James Whitley, chief deputy/operations, county Sheriff’s Office.

Park Authority to Meet

The Fairfax County Park Authority will meet Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m., in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900 in Fairfax. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.

Comment on Outdoors Plan

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is conducting statewide public meetings to gather citizen input for the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan. It’s the state’s comprehensive plan for meeting outdoor-recreation, land-conservation and open-space needs. It also helps Virginia prioritize projects and allocate funds for outdoor recreation and land conservation. A local public meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, 3060 Williams Drive, Suite 510, in Fairfax. For more information, call Janit Llewellyn Allen at 804-786-0887.

Free Carseat Inspections

Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, Jan. 26, and Feb. 9, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed.

However, because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times. More than 1,000 people had carseats checked and adjusted there in 2011.

WFCCA Elects Officers

At its quarterly meeting, Monday night, Jan. 16, the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) elected a new slate of officers. Jim Katcham is president; Judy Heisinger, executive vice president; Steve Chulick, administrative vice president; Carol Hawn, secretary; and Chris Terpak-Malm, treasurer.

Recycle During Electric Sunday

Residents may recycle old TVs, computers, peripheral electronic devices – such as keyboards, speakers, printers and scanners, as well as household hazardous wastes – including fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, for free, during Fairfax County’s “Electric Sunday” events. The next one is slated for Sunday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax. For more information, call 703-324-5052.

WFCM Seeking Volunteers

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) at 13981 Metrotech Drive, (near Backyard Grill and Bar) in Chantilly, needs the following volunteers:

Thrift store:

• General assistance needed Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A regular weekly volunteer is needed Thursdays, from 1-6 p.m., as well as Saturdays, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, contact Volunteer Manager Annette Bosley at 703-988-9656.

Furniture ministry:

• One person is needed to help move furniture that will be given to clients in need.

Correction

In the coverage of Westfield High School’s International Night [Centre View, Jan. 12, 2012], a participating student’s name was misspelled in a caption. It should have been Shilpa Gokhale.