Police say arson destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, disrupting preparedness as Virginia Task Force 1 responds to the earthquake in Venezuela

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — A fire that destroyed Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue training facility was intentionally set, according to Police Chief Kevin Davis.

Davis called the blaze an act of arson and said investigators are working to identify and charge the suspects responsible, WTTG reported.

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The fire destroyed the training facility used by Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue team.

The fire was reported around 5:20 p.m. on June 27 at the training site on Furnace Road. Crews arrived to find a large storage building filled with commercial equipment fully involved in flames.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Davis said the fire destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of heavy-duty equipment, affecting how the department trains for disaster response.

Multiple agencies use the facility and it supports the Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, Virginia Task Force 1, which is currently deployed to assist with earthquake recovery efforts in Venezuela.

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