Six Cats Die in McLean House Fire; Elderly Woman Hospitalized

By Jason Spencer and Greg Hambrick

An elderly McLean woman has been hospitalized and six of her eight pets were killed in what emergency responders have deemed an accidental house fire this week.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to the fire, at 1903 Westmoreland St., shortly after noon Thursday, according to a news release. They found smoke coming from two sides of a two-story, single-family home.

The woman, whom officials have not identified, was found unconscious and removed from the building. She was taken to the Burn Center at Washington Hospital, though the extent of her injuries was unclear. A news release on Friday deemed them life-threatening, though the Washington Post reported the injuries to be non-life-threatening in an earlier account.

Eight animals were found in the home, including six cats that were all dead, according to the news release. Rescuers provided care and "aggressive oxygen therapy" to the remaining cat and dog while transporting them to Suburban Animal Hospital on Lee Highway in Arlington, it states.

The surviving cat and dog were treated and released.

Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics shared a photo from the scene, courtesy of @Capt258. 

Fire and Rescue personnel estimated damage to the home to be at $50,000.

The fire's cause has been deemed accidental, originating in an oven control assembly.