Purcellville, Va. – On Thursday evening, the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development issued an unsafe structure order for the Purcellville East Apartments located at 110‑120 N. 16th Street. The order required the evacuation of second‑floor units in six buildings after fire and rescue crews observed damaged staircases during a call on Oct. 25.
Evacuation details
County inspectors confirmed that the stairwells serving the second floors were unsafe, making access to those apartments hazardous. Twenty‑four units on the second level were affected, with twenty‑two of them occupied at the time of the evacuation. In total, nearly 55 people – including families and individuals – were displaced from their homes.
Residents of first‑floor units were not impacted and were allowed to remain in place. Notices posted at the complex on Thursday informed occupants of the emergency order and directed them to contact the county for assistance.
County and community response
Multiple county departments, along with nonprofit agencies, have mobilized to help displaced residents and their pets find temporary shelter. Fire crews assisted residents in gathering personal belongings, while county officials are working closely with the property owner to address the structural issues.
Those needing assistance can call the county’s dedicated hotline at 703‑777‑0420. The county has pledged to continue providing support until the stairwell hazards are fully repaired and the apartments are deemed safe for re‑occupation.
What comes next
The Department of Building and Development will continue its inspection of the property to ensure all safety concerns are resolved. Once the staircases are repaired and cleared by inspectors, the evacuated residents will be allowed to return to their homes.
This incident underscores the importance of regular building inspections and swift action by local officials to protect the safety of families in our community.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
