A late-night apartment fire in Woodbridge left two Prince William County firefighters injured and nine residents without a place to sleep, after heavy flames ripped through part of a building and prompted officials to label multiple units unsafe to occupy. Investigators say the fire started on a balcony, and the American Red Cross has stepped in to help those suddenly displaced.
Prince William County Fire & Rescue units rolled out around 11:05 p.m. to the 12700 block of Wood Hollow Drive, where crews arrived to find intense flames shooting from the rear of the apartment building, according to DC News Now. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, and eight adults and one child were forced from their homes as crews worked the scene. The Fire Marshal’s Office told the outlet the fire began when smoking materials were improperly discarded on a balcony, and county inspectors later tagged three apartments as unsafe to re-enter.
Fire Marshal Pins Blaze On Smoking Materials
Prince William County’s safety guidance has long warned that tossed cigarette butts and other smoking materials can quietly smolder in planter soil or on wooden decking, then flare up into a full-blown fire that climbs siding or balcony finishes, per Prince William County Fire & Rescue. The department urges smokers to soak all discarded materials in water or dump them in sturdy metal containers and to double-check that smoke alarms are working. Officials say those simple steps are part of an ongoing push to cut down on outside and mulch fires that can move frighteningly fast into a building’s exterior.
Red Cross Assisting Displaced Residents
DC News Now reported that the American Red Cross is now helping the eight adults and one child who lost housing in the fire, while the injured firefighters were treated for minor wounds. County officials said the structure sustained significant damage, and inspectors are keeping residents out until repairs are made and safety checks clear the building. Neighbors told the outlet they heard alarms sounding and watched firefighters work through the night, chasing hotspots and venting smoke from the charred units.
Investigators are still combing through the scene, and the county is asking anyone with video, photos or tips to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office. For a checklist of what to do after a fire, including contacting insurance, securing damaged property and seeking recovery assistance, residents can turn to the county’s fire and injury prevention resources. Anyone in immediate need of shelter or emergency help is urged to reach out to the American Red Cross or Prince William County emergency services.
