West End high-rise apartment building evacuated after power outage

An electrical malfunction has prompted the required evacuation of a 17-story apartment building in the West End.

The power went out at Key Towers at 6060 Tower Court shortly before 5 a.m., and the city’s DASH bus service is helping transport evacuated residents to a cooling center at Patrick Henry Recreation Center, which is just over two miles away. There are 140 units in the 1960s-era building and Monday’s temperature is expected to reach the mid-90s.

“Evacuation is required and is being ordered by the Fire Marshal’s Office,” AFD Senior Public Information Officer Raytevia Evans told ALXnow. “Dominion Energy is on-scene now, and they have been for a while along with us. The building has been evacuated because the power had to be cut in order to make those repairs on what they’ve discovered.”

Dominion determined that a privately owned underground transmission line went down, Evans said.

“The property managers have their private contractors on scene as well,” Evans said, adding that that the city’s Office of Emergency Management is working with the property manager to inform residents that the building will be without power for “a while”.

This morning, AFD responded to an electrical malfunction to a 17-story residential bldg on Tower Ct. Power to the building has been cut & residents were safely evacuated w/help from the Fire Marshal’s Office. AFD & @DominionEnergy on scene to support residents and repairs. pic.twitter.com/4L5EOOVQRH

— Alexandria Fire-EMS (@AlexandriaVAFD) July 12, 2021

Courtesy Google Maps