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Fire destroys former Va. Governor and U.S. Senator Chuck Robb's home

Posted at 10:25 AM, Dec 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-12-22 16:57:51-05

McLEAN, Va. -- Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Chuck Robb and his wife Lynda Robb were taken to the hospital after a fire destroyed their Northern Virginia home.

The Robb family confirmed on Wednesday morning that their parents suffered no life-threatening injuries and were driven by ambulance to the hospital.

“Our entire family is deeply grateful to the firefighters for their rapid response and the medical professionals who are taking care of them,” the Robbs' daughters said in a statement released by the Governor's Office. “We have what is most important to us — our mom and dad.”

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Fire burns home owned by former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Chuck Robb.

"There are currently no updates," a spokesperson for Fairfax Fire and Rescue posted on social media Wednesday morning. "Fire investigators must complete investigation before [a cause] can be released. Based on the severity of the fire it could take days/weeks."

Fairfax fire crews were called to the home in 600 block of Chain Bridge Road at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Fire burns home owned by former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Chuck Robb.

The Robbs were alone in the home, their children said in the statement.

Chuck Robb, 82, served as Governor of Virginia from 1982 - 1986. He was later elected as a U.S. Senator and served in the Senate from 1989 - 2001.

He married Lynda Bird Johnson, 77, the daughter of President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, in December 1967. The couple was married in the White House.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tweeted Wednesday that he was "deeply saddened" to learn about the fire and said his "thoughts are with Chuck and Lynda as they recover from this tragedy."

The stretch of the road where the Robbs live is a few miles outside the nation's capital and home to a number of wealthy political figures and diplomats. Tax records show the home has a value of $5.5 million, with an adjacent parcel of land owned by the Robbs valued at $3.4 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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