Virignia mansion worth $2.7m owned by United Arab Emirates Embassy mysteriously goes up in flames

  • Fire overtook a mansion owned by the Embassy of the UAE in McLean, Virginia
  • It appears to be destroyed as it took over 12 hours to fully douse the blaze
  • The time was due to a lack of fire hydrants in the luxurious neighborhood
  • Six people escaped, and two dogs were rescued safely from the home

A fire overtook a mansion owned by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Northern Virginia on Saturday morning. 

Six people were able to escape, and two dogs were rescued safely from the $2.7 million mansion in McLean, so that no one was injured. 

However, the five-bedroom, six-bathroom house appears to be destroyed, as firefighters were still spraying down the blaze three hours after arriving at the scene. 

Saturday morning a fire overtook the pictured mansion, which is owned by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Northern Virginia

Saturday morning a fire overtook the pictured mansion, which is owned by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Northern Virginia

Two men who lived there believe that the fire started in the kitchen, and said that the fire seemed small and contained

Two men who lived there believe that the fire started in the kitchen, and said that the fire seemed small and contained

It took firefighters over 12 hours to fully douse the blaze, reported WJLA.  

Two men who lived there believe that the fire started in the kitchen, and said that the fire seemed small and contained. 

Fire and Rescue couldn't enter the home's remains until the fire was fully extinguished, as the free-standing brick walls and two chimneys posed a hazard, according to Paul Ruwe, a deputy chief with the Fairfax County and fire Rescue. 

It took more than 12 hours for fighters to fully douse the blaze 

It took more than 12 hours for fighters to fully douse the blaze 

Firetrucks arrived quickly on the scene, but it took time for them to hook hoses up to the far-off hydrant

Firetrucks arrived quickly on the scene, but it took time for them to hook hoses up to the far-off hydrant

There was a 30-minute delay in hosing out the flames due to the distant hydrant

There was a 30-minute delay in hosing out the flames due to the distant hydrant

'Without walls and a roof and a floor it could become a stability problem with a danger of collapse,' he told the Washington Post. He added that investigators have not determined a cause. 

Mohammad Almansouri, 42, was staying in the home on a visit from the UAE, and said that when the fire started it seemed so contained that he and two others had time to move several cars to make room for firetrucks. 

Firetrucks arrived quickly on the scene, but it took time for them to hook hoses up to the far-off hydrant. 

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house appears to be destroyed, as firefighters were still spraying down the blaze three hours after arriving at the scene

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house appears to be destroyed, as firefighters were still spraying down the blaze three hours after arriving at the scene

The  deputy fire chief explained that it is not unusual for some areas to have a lackluster hydrant system, and so it took time to set up a relay system to supply proper water volume and pressure in the hoses

The  deputy fire chief explained that it is not unusual for some areas to have a lackluster hydrant system, and so it took time to set up a relay system to supply proper water volume and pressure in the hoses

Five men were living in the home, in addition to three employees. Almansouri said that one of the men works for the embassy, but is not the ambassador. 

There was a 30-minute delay in hosing out the flames, and Ruwe, the deputy fire chief, said to the Post that is because the distant hydrant was 'way outside the realm of possibility'. 

He explained that it is not unusual for some areas to have a lackluster hydrant system, and so it took time to set up a relay system to supply proper water volume and pressure in the hoses. 

Ruwe said that a far off hydrant: 'adds a complexity to the event, but it doesn't prevent us from doing our job'. 

Residents on the street have expressed concern with county officials about a lack of hydrants in a neighborhood full of multimillion-dollar homes. Many are on wells because pipes haven't been extended to them, reported the Washington Post.  

Residents on the same street as the Mansion (pictured before the fire) have expressed concern with county officials about a lack of hydrants in a neighborhood full of multimillion-dollar homes

Residents on the same street as the Mansion (pictured before the fire) have expressed concern with county officials about a lack of hydrants in a neighborhood full of multimillion-dollar homes

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