Loudoun Neighbors Push to Demolish Lowes Island Arson Remains Before Anniversary

Residents of Loudoun's Riptide Square neighborhood are pressing supervisors to finish demolishing fire-scarred remains left after the October 2025 arson that killed Madelaine Akers, WTOP reported.

Neighbor Paul Caiazzo said two destroyed homes were cleared quickly, but the convicted arsonist's house still stands behind fencing nearly a year later. A Change.org petition asks for a written demolition schedule before the Oct. 24 anniversary, citing smells, pollution and broken glass as health hazards for children.

In July, supervisors adopted an ordinance giving the owner a month to remove remnants or face county cleanup billed to the property. That deadline passed without action. Briskman said a contractor will assess the site, costs should stay under the $500,000 competitive-bid threshold, and permits could take about 10 days.

If the county performs the work, Briskman expects early October completion before the anniversary, while noting the private owner could still demolish sooner and avoid a lien.

Email the Board of Supervisors at:
Phyllis J. Randall (Chair, At-Large) – Phyllis.Randall@loudoun.gov,
Michael R. Turner (Vice Chair, Ashburn District) – Mike.Turner@loudoun.gov,
Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian District) – Juli.Briskman@loudoun.gov,
Sylvia R. Glass (Broad Run District) – Sylvia.Glass@loudoun.gov,
Caleb Kershner (Catoctin District) – caleb.kershner@loudoun.gov,
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles District) – Matt.Letourneau@loudoun.gov,
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg District) – Kristen.Umstattd@loudoun.gov,
Laura A. TeKrony (Little River District) – Laura.TeKrony@loudoun.gov,
Koran Saines (Sterling District) – Koran.Saines@loudoun.gov

Email the Loudoun County School Board:
April Chandler, april.chandler@lcps.org,
Anne Donohue, anne.donohue@lcps.org,
Deana Griffiths, deana.griffiths@lcps.org,
Ross Svenson, ross.stevenson@lcps.org,
Kari LaBell, kari.labell@lcps.org,
Jon Pepper, jonathon.pepper@lcps.org,
Lauren Shernoff, lauren.shernoff@lcps.org,
Sumera Rashid, sumera.rashid@lcps.org,
Amy Riccardi, amy.riccardi@lcps.org,