A house fire early Sunday morning in the Fairfax Center area displaced three people and caused an estimated $250,000 damage. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a single-family townhouse at 1181 Laurel Lake Square, on Oct. 20, around 3:20 a.m.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the first floor and garage area of the middle unit, three-story townhouse upon arrival. As the flames were spreading to the second floor, they conducted an aggressive attack and brought the blaze under control in approximately 15 minutes.

The three adults that were home when the fire began escaped unharmed and were assisted by the Red Cross. No one was injured. According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental and was caused by an unattended candle in the basement.

Goblin Gallop Is Sunday

The 20th annual Goblin Gallop 5K race, walk and 1K fun run will be held Sunday, Oct. 27, at 8:30 a.m., at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center. Many participants and onlookers wear Halloween costumes; and afterward, there are prizes, refreshments, a costume contest, live music and a moonbounce.

Rain or shine, the race begins and ends in front of Coastal Flats restaurant; participants receive commemorative T-shirts. Online registration at www.goblingallop.org remains open until race time. All proceeds go to the John Quadrino Foundation to Benefit Children with Cancer.

Meow-loween at Animal Shelter

In the spirit of Halloween, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is celebrating “Meow-loween” with programs, activities and half-off cat-adoption fees throughout October. Adoptees will receive a free bag of treats and goodies for new feline family members. And on “Feline Fridays” this month, all adult cats are just $5.

This weekend, Oct. 25-27, adoption fees on dogs and cats over age 3 will be waived. There’ll be games, prizes and spooky, hands-on fun for families, plus guinea pig and rabbit-petting stations, a haunted cat-condo-decorating contest and trick-or-treating for shelter pets.

Dispose of Old Medications

City of Fairfax police, in cooperation with the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will collect unused and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, Oct. 26. It’s part of national Drug Take-Back Day. People with unused and unwanted prescription drugs may turn them in at two different locations.

They’ll be collected from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the lobby of police headquarters at 3730 Old Lee Highway or may be given to a police officer stationed outside the CVS Pharmacy at 10090 Fairfax Blvd. from 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Over-the-counter medications also will be accepted.

Drop-off is anonymous, and no identification or prescription information is required. It’s requested that no liquids, needles or other sharp object objects be included in the items turned in. Disposal of medications is a national concern, with reports of prescription drug chemicals found in some water sources and leaching out of landfills.

Bike Summit at GMU

The second Fairfax Bike Summit is set for Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at GMU. Register by Oct. 31 at www.fabb-bikes.org/summit. Cost is $25, which includes snacks and lunch. Sponsored by Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), in partnership with GMU, Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax, it’s open to everyone who wants more options for getting around their communities.