Updated: House on Winter Wheat Lane ‘fully involved’

STAFFORD — Black smoke billowed over Stafford County on Thursdays night.

Fire and rescue crews were called ago a blaze on Winter Wheat Lane, just off Kellogg Mill Road in the county about 6 p.m.

Crews found a house burning, fully involved in flames. The fire so intense, crews mounted a defensive attack on the blaze meaning crews would fight the blaze from a short distance rather than try to enter the structure.

A child called 911 to report the house on fire, according to initial reports.

We’ve not gotten official word from the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department on the cause of the blaze, or how much damage was caused.

More as we have it.

Update from Stafford fire and rescue: 

Personnel from the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to 46 Winter Wheat Lane for a reported Residential Fire.   The fire was received by the Stafford County Emergency Communications Center at 17:44.  An ambulance from the Mountain View Rescue Station arrived five minutes later to find significant fire throughout the structure and through the roof.  The first fire unit arrived on the scene at 17:55 and formed an aggressive fire attack bringing the under control within 10 minutes.  During the time in which the fire was reported, the first due fire engine was on an emergency call at another location.     

The notification of the fire was made to a family member and relayed to the 9-1-1 center, which resulted in a delay in the response.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to dial 9-1-1 as soon as you suspect you have an emergency, says Joseph A. Cardello, County Fire and Rescue Chief.

The house and contents sustained significant damage which is estimated at $82,000.  Two adults were displaced as a result of the fire and are staying with family members.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal’s office.