LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A house fire that caused more than $1.3 million in damage in a Virginia neighborhood was accidental and started after junked smoking material ignited, according to fire officials.

The two-alarm fire happened around 12:23 p.m. July 2 in the 17100 block of Creekside Green Place in Round Hill.

The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Marshal’s Office said when crews arrived, they found heavy fire conditions at a two-story single-family home. A second alarm was requested, bringing more units from Ashburn and Clarke County.

Everyone inside the home safely evacuated before firefighters showed up, officials said.

SEE ALSO | Girl, 8, left in hot car for nearly an hour in Virginia, adult family member arrested

Firefighters reportedly began working on the blaze, including the use of an elevated master stream from the first-arriving ladder truck.

During the response, crews rescued the family cat from the basement, according to the fire department.

Crews gave oxygen and temporary care before turning the cat over to Loudoun County Animal Services for evaluation.

The fire was declared under control after about an hour.

Because of the extreme heat wave in the region, firefighters rotated through rehabilitation stations during the incident.

Officials said crews were given time to hydrate, rest in cooled areas, and receive medical monitoring.

No one was hurt in the incident, and the fire left a family of four and a cat displaced.

Officials estimated damages at $1,346,790.

A house fire that caused more than $1.3 million in damage in a Virginia neighborhood was accidental and started after junked smoking material ignited, according to fire officials. (Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office)

SEE ALSO | Frederick County farmer saves field after combine erupts in flames

Investigators said the entire ordeal started after smoking materials were thrown away into a container, where they smoldered and later caught fire while unattended.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue is reminding residents to fully extinguish smoking materials before throwing them away.

Officials said cigarette butts and ashes should be doused in water or sand and disposed of only in a designated metal containers.

A U.S. Air Force commander for medical services at a Virginia base was removed from her post this week, according to Air Force officials.

Col. Tracy Allen, commander of the 633rd Medical Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, one of the largest Air Force bases, was relieved of command on Tuesday because of a “loss of confidence,” a Langley spokesperson told Military Times on Thursday.

Allen was removed by Col. Stephen Anderson, 633rd Air Base Wing commander, “after careful consideration.”

The base did not provide a specific reason for Allen’s removal beyond citing a loss of confidence in her ability to lead.

Until a new commander of the medical unit is chosen, Col. Michael Blowers, the deputy command surgeon at Air Combat Command, has assumed responsibility of the group.

Before taking command, Allen previously led the 436th Medical Group at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. She also served as the chief of the Medical Readiness Division and chief of the Air Force Medical Operations Center, according to her LinkedIn.

The base houses Air Combat Command, one of the force’s 10 major commands. It has 1,150 assigned aircraft with 35 wings and 1,470 units across 248 locations.

The 633rd Medical Group has five squadrons and 1,400 personnel that deliver outpatient, specialty and emergent care and operate an outpatient surgical center.

The unit also supports a local patient population of up to 29,000 active-duty members and their families alongside 426,000 TRICARE beneficiaries in Hampton Roads, the area in which the base is located.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Urban Baby Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to building Virginia’s maternal health hub system, has been recognized as a recipient of a $5,000 grant as part of 8News’ parent company, Nexstar’s “30 Days of Giving” initiative.

On June 14, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced that the Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation had recognized Urban Baby Beginnings as a recipient of a $5,000 grant.

This comes as part of the company’s month-long program recognizing and supporting nonprofit and charitable organizations serving communities across Nexstar’s nationwide footprint.

“30 Days of Giving” is an initiative driven by employees to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nexstar’s founding in June 1996. 

Here at 8News, assistant news director Katie Wells nominated the nonprofit, which is dedicated to ensuring women of childbearing age have access to high-quality, compassionate and culturally relevant maternal care.

Urban Baby Beginnings works to reduce adverse outcomes for families during the prenatal, postpartum and early childhood stages.

The organization’s hubs in Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Petersburg and Roanoke, as well as its telehealth platform, connect families with hospitals, providers and community-based organizations to ensure care is accessible and meets families’ medical and social needs.

8News reporter Madison Moore met with Stephanie Spencer, the nonprofit’s CEO and founder, who said that Urban Baby Beginnings’ mission goes far beyond health care — providing mental health support many mothers say they’re missing.

“The reality is most moms are looking for that sense of belonging, someone that can listen to them and help walk through their journey,” Spencer said.

Spencer explained that the funding will go directly back to the community, including an expansion of the nonprofit’s programs that provide diapers to families.

“[It] allows us to expand our access to our social support groups,” Spencer said. “It allows us to expand our access to our diapering programs. These things matter to our mothers.”

Following the organization’s recognition, Steve Blanchard, Vice President and General Manager of 8News, shared a statement with Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

“We are honored to support Urban Baby Beginnings through the Nexstar Charitable Foundation’s ‘30 Days of Giving’ campaign,” Blanchard said. “Our employees selected this organization because of the meaningful difference it makes in the lives of families throughout our community. At WRIC, serving our viewers includes not only telling stories that matter, but also supporting organizations that are creating positive change.”

To learn more about Urban Baby Beginnings, visit its website.