Purcellville Apartments Evacuated Over Unsafe Stairs

About 55 people who live in a small apartment complex in western Loudoun County, Virginia, were told on Thursday, Oct. 29, that they could no longer use the staircases leading to their homes. County officials said the second-floor stairwells at Purcellville East Apartments, at 110–120 N. 16th Street, had deteriorated to the point that they were unsafe, and the affected households had to leave that night.

What officials found

The trouble began on Sunday, Oct. 25, when Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews went to one of the buildings for a call for service and noticed damaged stairs. Accounts of the damage vary a little between outlets. One local report said a paramedic's boot broke through a step, another described a second-floor stairway that collapsed, and a third referred to damaged and collapsed staircases. All of them agree that the stairs were found to be in dangerous condition and that crews shored up at least one of them.

County building officials then examined the complex and confirmed that the stairwells serving the second floors were unsafe. Under an unsafe-structure order from the county's building department, six buildings and 24 apartments were affected. Of those, 22 were occupied. First-floor households were not affected, because the order applies to the stairs and not to the ground-level units. Notices were posted on the buildings early in the week, and on Thursday officials returned to tell second-floor residents the stairs were now off limits.

Capt. Joshua Hottle of the Loudoun fire marshal's office, who inspected the property, explained the concern to Loudoun Now: second-floor occupants, he said, "would not be able to evacuate" in an emergency. That is the central life-safety problem: stairs that cannot be trusted are also the escape route during a fire.

How many people were displaced

The number depends on the source. The county's own news release said about 55 people. Both WJLA-TV and Loudoun Now reported 56. A local outlet that covers Purcellville said the complex averages about four people per unit, including children. As of Thursday evening, officials had reached families in 18 of the 22 occupied apartments, so the final count could shift as the county finishes outreach.

Where residents are staying

Because the order took effect immediately, the county moved quickly to arrange temporary lodging. Local reports said officials were providing overnight hotel stays for people who had nowhere else to go, with transport by bus, and encouraged anyone with friends or family nearby to stay with them. Residents were allowed to go back in, accompanied by fire crews and with safety checks, to collect clothing, medication and pet food. A nonprofit called BetterALife said it would supply meals and rides and was asking for donations, especially food and gas gift cards.

The county said several departments and nonprofit groups were helping residents and their pets relocate until the hazards are fixed. Deputy County Administrator Danny Davis told reporters the county was stepping in because the property owner had not responded. Loudoun Now noted that housing displaced tenants is ordinarily the management company's responsibility, and that the county will cover short-term housing in the meantime. No cost figures were given, and officials had not announced a timeline for return or a longer-term housing plan.

Affected residents can call Loudoun County at 703-777-0420 for help.

A dispute over the evacuation

Not everyone agreed the move was necessary. A man identified by WJLA as apartment management said he did not believe the buildings needed to be evacuated and said a contractor was scheduled to repair the staircase the following week, although finding a welder was proving difficult. Loudoun Now reported that Mayor Christopher Bertaut said the management company had not been as responsive as officials would like, and that no one from the company was on the property. The report did not name the owner or management company, and the outlet's call to the listed number did not connect.

The founder of BetterALife, Elizabeth Ford, told reporters she had raised concerns about conditions at the complex for years, including a damaged step she said she had flagged to the landlord weeks earlier. Those are her statements, and the county has not said whether any earlier complaints were on file.

What this means for renters

Unsafe-structure orders are different from fire evacuations, and they can leave tenants with very little notice. A few practical points apply to anyone living in a building with visible hazards:

• Report problems in writing. Email or text the landlord and keep copies. If nothing happens, send the same description to the local code enforcement or building department; an official inspection record can matter later.
• Photograph the damage. Dated photos of broken stairs, railings or alarms help establish how long a hazard existed.
• Pack a go-bag. Keep ID, medication, chargers, key documents and pet supplies together so a same-day move is less chaotic.
• Ask about your rights. Rules on rent, deposits and lease obligations during a forced relocation vary by state and locality. A legal aid office or tenant organization can explain what applies in your case.
• Check renters insurance. Some policies cover additional living expenses when a home cannot be used, though coverage for government orders varies, so read the policy language or call your insurer.

Officials planned to meet with the property owner on Friday, Oct. 30, according to a local report. We will update this story if the county announces repairs or a return date.

Cover photo: Town of Purcellville, Virginia, downtown district, by Scott Harris (Argoblaster), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. File photo of the town; not taken at the complex.