(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) Arlington first responders were called to the construction site of the new Alice West Fleet Elementary School this afternoon to rescue a worker.

The worker in need of assistance was located on the second floor of the new school, which is being built adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School at 125 S. Old Glebe Road.

Fire department spokesman Ben O’Bryant told ARLnow that the man was injured after falling off a ladder around around 1:15 p.m. today (Wednesday).

Firefighters then used a ladder truck to transport the worker down from the building’s second floor.

The worker was then taken to a local hospital, where he’s in “serious condition with non-life threatening injuries,” O’Bryant said.

Arlington firefighters extinguished a blaze at a home under construction in a neighborhood near Ballston early this morning.

First responders were called to the 4600 block of 13th Street N., in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood, around 1 a.m. today (Tuesday).

The fire broke out the basement of a two-story house that was currently being worked on, according to the county fire department’s Twitter account. The flames and smoke were so heavy that firefighters had to battle much of the inferno from outside the home.

#Update: Heavy fire throughout structure. Crews have to battle from exterior. pic.twitter.com/1xnyccMBrZ

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) February 12, 2019

No one was inside the home when the fire started and no injuries were reported. Fire marshals are still investigating what sparked the blaze.

Photo 1 via @ArlingtonVaFD Instagram, photos 2 and 3 via @ArlingtonVaFD Twitter

More Rumbles of More Amazon — “John Boyd, principal of the Boyd Co. Inc., a private site selection firm in Princeton, N.J… said he wouldn’t be surprised if Amazon decided to add more jobs to its operations in Crystal City.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACFD Rescues Stuck Puppy — Arlington firefighters helped to free a 9-week-old puppy whose head got stuck while being a bit too curious. “She thanked the crew with many kisses,” the department said. [Twitter]

Caps Player Joins Bash — New Arlington-based fitness business Bash Boxing has gained an investor and partner known for throwing a few punches: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson. [Washington Business Journal]

Middle School Project May Be Delayed — “The surroundings may prove a bit cramped for a while, but county school officials say they are working up contingencies if the expansion of Dorothy Hamm Middle School isn’t ready in time for the start of classes in September.” [InsideNova]

Favola vs. Merlene Preview — “Has a longtime member of the Arlington Democratic establishment solidly represented Northern Virginia at the state legislature in Richmond, or is there need for new blood?” [Greater Greater Washington]

Civic Federation Diversity Efforts Hit Snag — “Duke Banks hopes one of his legacies will be a commitment to bringing in a younger and more diverse group of leaders… Efforts to bring in new faces at the venerable organization have seen successes, but took a recent step backward with the resignation of two members of the board’s leadership.” [InsideNova]

Nearby: Affordable Homes Disappearing in Alexandria — The number of single-family homes in Alexandria valued at less than $500,000 dipped below the number priced higher last year. [Washington Business Journal]

Nawal Rajeh was doing some housework and listening to an audiobook in the moments before her life turned upside down.

Rajeh’s home, a small duplex on N. Garfield Street in Lyon Park, caught fire back on Jan. 3, forcing her to jump from her second-story apartment to evade the blaze.

She was left in tattered clothes, sitting on the street in the harsh cold. But Rajeh was soon moved by the kindness of her neighbors, who rushed to her aid to give her clothes and comfort while first responders arrived, even though they’d never met.

Now, about a month later, she’s hoping to thank them for their generosity, in part by sharing her story from that harrowing day.

“It was just shocking the way people jumped in and helped in an emergency like that,” Rajeh told ARLnow. “I’m really glad I lived in that neighborhood.”

Rajeh moved into the apartment just last September, as she pursues a doctorate in conflict resolution at George Mason University’s Virginia Square campus.

She had just returned home from visiting family in Ohio for the holidays the night before the fire broke out, and only just started her day with some house cleaning when she says heard “a loud crashing sound coming from the basement.”

At first, Rajeh didn’t think much of the noise. But she grew increasingly concerned when she heard her downstairs neighbor’s dog, named Bling, begin barking.

“He’s such a quiet dog normally, it seemed odd,” Rajeh said.

The building’s fire alarm then began sounding, prompting Rajeh to throw open the front door of her apartment.

“The entire stairwell was this thick, black tornado of smoke barreling in, I couldn’t see anything,” Rajeh said. “So I shut the door, I knew there was no way I could go down those stairs.”

Accordingly, she ran back to her bedroom, kicked out the screen to her window and decided to hang on the ledge until someone could help her down. Rajeh began screaming for help, but no one noticed her — the window was located on the side of the building, away from the street.

“I knew I could hang there for a while, I go to climbing gyms a lot,” Rajeh said. “But I couldn’t keep inhaling the smoke much longer.”

So she made the difficult decision to let go, plummeting into a bush below her window.

Luckily, Rajeh didn’t break any bones during the fall, though she did suffer some injuries from landing on the bush. She says firefighters later told her she managed a “very athletic jump,” given the circumstances.

Rajeh hobbled her way to the street, where a crowd of onlookers had gathered. Some were daycare workers who had been walking past the duplex and noticed the fire; others simply lived nearby and had called 911.

“I was wearing leggings when I jumped, and those were completely ruined,” Rajeh said. “I didn’t have any shoes on or anything… but people went up into their houses, brought me socks and shoes and a jacket.”

She says first responders arrived soon afterward, and she urged them to get inside the building and rescue Bling, the only other occupant of the duplex when the fire broke out. He inhaled a bit of smoke, but Rajeh says he’s since recovered well and is “back home, with an appetite again.”

Rajeh still isn’t sure what caused the fire — county fire department spokesman Ben O’Bryant says fire marshals determined “that the fire started in a mechanical room in the basement, but weren’t able to tell if it started in the HVAC unit or hot water heater.”

She’s since moved into another vacant property owned by her landlord elsewhere in Arlington, but lost most of her belongings in the fire. She says just about everything in the apartment was either burned to a crisp or “reeked of smoke” and was beyond saving.

But she says the local chapter of the American Red Cross has helped out with some essentials, and her wounds have mostly healed.

Some of her neighbors are now planning to bring Bling by the local fire station so he can properly thank his rescuers, and Rajeh hopes to deliver her own expressions of gratitude to her neighbors who helped her when she was in need.

She doesn’t know all of their names, but she hopes to swing by her old neighborhood to offer her thanks all the same.

“It’s just the kind of thing you don’t expect from city living, but there were a lot of caring people I’d never met before,” Rajeh said.

Photos 1, 2 and 3 via @ArlingtonVAFD, headshot courtesy of Nawal Rajeh

Students and staff have been evacuated from Jamestown Elementary School in North Arlington after smoke reportedly filled the school’s boiler room.

The evacuation comes amid frigid temperatures below 20 degrees.

Arlington County firefighters are investigating the smoke and believe it may be the result of a mechanical issue, according to scanner traffic. Police are blocking off streets due to the fire department response.

Those evacuated from the building are expected to be let back in soon.

File photo

(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) A busy, cold morning for local firefighters is getting busier.

Firefighters are on scene of a fire at the large Horizons Apartments complex at 4300 Old Dominion Drive, near Cherrydale. The fire is reported to be out but smoky conditions have been reported on the 9th and 10th floors.

Side streets in the area are blocked by the firefighting activity, according to the Arlington County Fire Department.

#FinalUpdate: Apartment fire on 9th floor is out. No extension. Searches and ventilation complete. No injuries reported. Fire Marshal on scene investigating. Most units being placed in service and residents returning to building. pic.twitter.com/UPCYTgd535

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 31, 2019

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) Firefighters from Arlington and Alexandria extinguished a house fire in Arlington’s Nauck neighborhood today (Wednesday).

The fire broke out in a two-story duplex on the 3700 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive — a narrow residential street that runs parallel to the main route — around 1 p.m. Arriving firefighters reported smoke coming from the front door and the occupants of the home standing outside.

As of 1:30 p.m. the fire was said to be under control, though possible hoarding conditions complicated the firefighting operation.

The fire department said medics assessed one person who was inside the home at the time of the fire for injuries.

#FinalUpdate: Fire Marshals on scene investigating. Crews are going in service. Units will be on scene for some time picking up equipment. If you’re in the area watch out for ice and slick spots. Thanks @AlexandriaVAFD for the help. pic.twitter.com/NawAii7GLU

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 30, 2019

Photo via ACFD Instagram

Student Population Predicted to Keep Rising — “Arlington school officials say they now anticipate the total student population to rise an additional 24 percent by 2028, and the latest round of projections has raised fears the school system could fall further behind in its efforts to keep up with elementary-school enrollment.” [InsideNova]

Amazon to First Come to Rosslyn? — “Amazon.com Inc. is said to be in talks to take some or all of the planned WeWork co-working space set to open in Rosslyn later this year as it plots its longer term growth at National Landing,” reports the Washington Business Journal. ARLnow has also heard from a commercial real estate source that Amazon will station its initial Arlington “HQ2” employees at the Rosslyn WeWork, while its temporary space in Crystal City is built out, but we have been able to confirm the rumor. [Washington Business Journal]

Local Elm Tree Honored — An American elm tree on S. Randolph Street “has become the first elm tree to be named a specimen tree in Arlington County.” [Arlington County]

Police Outreach Meeting Postponed — “Due to projected inclement weather, the North Outreach Team Quarterly Meeting scheduled for… January 29, has been postponed. Event details on the rescheduled meeting will be provided at a later time.” [Twitter]

Patient Stops By Fire Station to Thank Rescuers — “Andrew stopped by Fire Station 10 to show his gratitude after being extricated from his overturned Jeep last week on Route 110. Andrew was released from the hospital one day after the accident with no life threatening injuries.” [Twitter]

Nearby: Landmark Mall Development Update — “There are several years until any major construction activity occurs at Landmark Mall, but Alexandria and the mall’s owner are homing in now on the parameters that will guide the nearly 6 million-square-foot redevelopment… Buildings could rise as high as 250 feet, per one recommendation.” [Washington Business Journal]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse is temporarily closed due to a fire Saturday afternoon.

The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. at the restaurant, near the corner of Clarendon Blvd and N. Adams Street, but the flames were mostly confined to the kitchen and the restaurant’s duct work and exhaust system, which extends to the roof.

Roads around the restaurant, which is located on the ground floor of a Residence Inn hotel, were closed for more than an hour as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire inside the duct work. Smoke could be seen coming from the roof as firefighters arrived.

Fire Works remained closed as firefighters packed up. A county health inspector and building inspector were called to the scene to evaluate the damage, though no serious damage could be seen through the restaurant’s windows.

No injuries were reported.

More from the Arlington County Fire Department:

#Update: Units are actively fighting fire in a restaurant kitchen that has spread into the exhaust system duct work. RIT Level I is en route. pic.twitter.com/rGNxCa7fwZ

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 26, 2019

#FinalUpdate: Units have flowed water from the roof all the way down to the 1st floor restaurant through the duct work. All fire in the duct work and restaurant is out. Health inspector has been dispatched to check restaurant. Fire Marshal will be investigating the cause. pic.twitter.com/FSFYc8YOXy

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 26, 2019

Photo (top) courtesy @samerfarha

(Updated at 9 p.m.) Arlington County firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on Little Falls Road in North Arlington.

The fire was reported around 7 p.m. in the basement of a home on the 5700 block of Little Falls Road, roughly between Nottingham Elementary and Yorktown High School.

A second contingent of fire department units was quickly dispatched to the scene to help with the firefighting effort. A partial floor collapse was reported inside the home, though no injuries have been reported.

No one was inside the home when the fire broke out, according to ACFD.

#Update Bulk of the fire is extinguished. Little Falls Rd between Yorktown & N Harrison St is closed. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/PYC6fYD3HF

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 23, 2019

#FinalUpdate: Fire is out. Ventilation complete. No civilian or FF injuries. No one home at the time of the fire. Fire Marshals on scene investigating. Continue to avoid the area as units pick up equipment. pic.twitter.com/rdpSuOPjJM

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 23, 2019

Map via Google Maps

(Updated at 9 p.m.) An SUV crashed and flipped on its roof near Rosslyn this morning, injuring one person.

The crash happened before 9:30 a.m. According to police, the SUV was on I-66, heading toward D.C., when it careened off the side of the highway and landed along Route 110 — near a construction zone where Route 110 splits off to westbound I-66 and Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn.

One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Arlington County Fire Department. The northbound lanes of Route 110 were closed for an extended period of time, but reopened shortly before 10:45 a.m.

Crews extricated one patient from this accident on 110NB. Pt transported in Good Condition with NLT injuries. ACFD units returning to service. Continue to seek alt. routes as all lanes RT110 will be closed from Arlington Ridge Rd to Marshall Dr for unknown time pic.twitter.com/3sKmxQDWZf

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 21, 2019

Police are investigating a single vehicle crash with injuries. At approx 8:30 AM, the driver was traveling on I-66 when he left the roadway and landed on Rt. 110. @ArlingtonVaFD extricated the driver and transported him to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/t1inAjqFDS

— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) January 21, 2019

It was a busy morning for ACFD, which also responded to a call for smoke that filled a one-story commercial building — reported by one witness to be the 7-Eleven store — in Virginia Square.

Electricity controlled, smoke disipating. Most units returning to service. Expect congestion in the area for next 30 minutes as remaining units finish investigation and smoke removal.

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 21, 2019

Wilson Blvd at Lincoln is entirely shut down right now for fire department response, looks like at the 7-11 @ARLnowDOTcom

— Don Whiteside™ (@donw) January 21, 2019

(Updated at 10:45 a.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that started in a dryer at a Crystal City apartment complex this morning (Tuesday).

Crews were called to the 1600 block of S. Eads Street around 10:30 a.m. to respond to the fire.

Firefighters have since knocked the fire down, but are still working to determine the extent of the blaze, the fire department said.

The fire does not appear to have resulted in any injuries, but the department is still urging people to avoid the area while clean-up work continues.

#Update: Crews found dryer fire on 9th floor. Fire extinguished. No injuries reported. Most units going in service. Fire Marshal investigating. Continue to avoid the area while crews finish operations and pick up equipment.

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 15, 2019

Photo via Google Maps

Arlington firefighters doused a blaze in a Northwest Arlington home early this morning (Thursday).

The fire broke out at a home along the 6200 block of Washington Blvd, in the Highland Park-Overlee Knolls neighborhood, around 1 a.m.

The blaze took firefighters around an hour to put out, according to the fire department’s Twitter account. No one was inside the home when the fire started, the department added.

The county fire marshal is still investigating what caused the blaze, and first responders briefly returned to the home around noon today to continue the investigation, prompting a few road closures in the area.

Photos via @ArlingtonVaFD

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a fire in a home in Northeast Arlington.

First responders were called to the 4000 block of Nelly Custis Drive around noon today (Thursday) to battle the blaze. The home is in the Dover Crystal neighborhood.

Smoke and flames appeared to be concentrated around the home’s basement, per scanner traffic.

Firefighters didn’t find anyone inside the home after searching it, the department said. However, they did discover a cat inside and got it to safety, where it seems to be recovering well from some smoke inhalation.

#Update: Units are still on scene working on extinguishing fire that has gotten into the attic. pic.twitter.com/g0waLgcStc

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 10, 2019

#Update: Fire is out. All searches have come up negative. Units working on ventilation and overhaul. Crews going through rehab. pic.twitter.com/vVdnO7go3F

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 10, 2019

#Update: A cat has been located and rescued from the basement of the structure. It is currently receiving oxygen from our medics and seems to be doing well. 🐱🐈 pic.twitter.com/0Zwxz0zVbI

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 10, 2019

Photo via @ArlingtonVaFD

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Firefighters battled an intense vehicle fire today in front of the Arlington Assembly of God Church, along Route 50 in the Arlington Forest neighborhood.

Initial reports suggest that a food truck caught fire, though the vehicle was later reported to be a work van. A traffic camera showed flames and a thick column of smoke coming from the van as firefighters arrived on scene. The smoke could be seen from as far away as Crystal City.

The fire was extinguished after a few minutes and no one was injured. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause.

Engine 109 arrived to find this work van fully involved in the 4700 block of Arlington Blvd this morning. No injuries were reported. Fire Marshals are investigating the cause. Consider keeping a #FireExtinguisher in your vehicle safety kit. You never know when you may need one. pic.twitter.com/Dg6xyYGZxu

— Arlington Fire (@ArlingtonVaFD) January 8, 2019

Significant dark smoke visible from Crystal City – maybe a car fire on 395 near Army Navy CC? @WTOPtraffic @ARLnowDOTcom

— William F. Yurasko (@doubleuefwhy) January 8, 2019