07/05/2026
The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) is aware of the video showing hot coals improperly dumped into a plastic trash bin at Mr Whip Wash. We take this incident very seriously and appreciate the community bringing it to our attention.
The Alexandria Fire Department and the Alexandria Firefighters Association Local 540 are completely separate organizations. The barbecue trailer involved is owned by the Association, not the city fire department, and it was loaned to an individual outside of the fire service. No active-duty firefighters or AFD personnel were involved in this incident.
The individual in the video displayed extremely poor judgment and violated basic fire safety protocols. We echo the community's safety concerns and are deeply grateful to the alert citizen who acted quickly to extinguish the hazard.
We extend our sincere concern to the owners, staff, and customers of Mr. Whip Wash for the potential danger this caused.
Send a message to learn more