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JUST IN: Dog may have accidentally started fire at West End home, owner says

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum
Fire in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street, June 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A kitchen fire may have been accidentally set off by a dog this morning (Monday) at a West End home, according to the owner.

The Alexandria Fire Department responded around 9:31 a.m. after a resident reported the smell of smoke from a neighbor’s home in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street. Units encountered a fire on the stovetop and confirmed it was out as of 9:50 a.m., according to scanner traffic.

The homeowner, who was home and uninjured, told ALXnow one dog was missing and another has been accounted for. The homeowner believes a dog accidentally turned on a burner on the stovetop.

There were no firefighter or resident injuries, according to AFD.

The fire marshal was requested to respond to the scene for an investigation. Animal control had also been called for a report of a loose dog during the fire response.

ALXnow has reached out to AFD for more information.

About the Authors

  • Emily Leayman is the editor of ALXnow and contributes reporting to ARLnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.