Transformer fire leads to evacuations at Bailey’s Crossroads high-rise

A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey’s Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey’s Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey’s Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
The fire department sent out a second alarm looking for help with evacuations and smoke removal. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
The fire department sent out a second alarm looking for help with evacuations and smoke removal. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
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A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
The fire department sent out a second alarm looking for help with evacuations and smoke removal. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A transformer fire in Bailey's Crossroads led to a smoky evacuation Monday. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)

Fairfax County firefighters are on the scene of a transformer fire in Bailey’s Crossroads that has led to evacuations at a 26-story high-rise.

The fire broke out at about 10 a.m. outside a building in the 3700 block of South George Mason Drive, which is close to Va. Route 7.

The fire started around 10 a.m; Asst. Chief Joe Knerr said via Twitter that there was no fire in the building, but that smoke had migrated into the high-rise, including some of the units.

They sent out a second alarm for help with evacuating people and clearing the smoke. Residents are being sheltered at a neighboring building.

The power to the building has been turned off, and Dominion Power is on the scene assessing the damage to their transformer; Knerr said it wasn’t known yet how long the building would be without power.

Rick Massimo

Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival."

Colleen Kelleher

Colleen Kelleher is an award-winning journalist who has been with WTOP since 1996. Kelleher joined WTOP as the afternoon radio writer and night and weekend editor and made the move to WTOP.com in 2001. Now she works early mornings as the site's Senior Digital Editor.

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