wind-aided fire destroyed a Stafford County home yesterday and forced officials to evacuate two nearby houses, fire officials said.
Rescue and fire services spokesman Mark Doyle said the fire at 75 Hunton Drive in the Leeland Station subdivision was reported at 1:22 p.m. The two-story, 3,500-square-foot home was in flames when the first units arrived six minutes later.
Doyle said the homeowner discovered the fire and alerted his son. After retrieving a family pet, they left the burning structure and called 911, as did numerous neighbors.
After being assured that no one was inside, Doyle said, a primary concern for firefighters was the two adjacent homes. Residents in those homes were asked to leave while firefighters got the blaze under control. That was done in about an hour.
Doyle estimated the fire caused between $350,000 and $400,000 in damage to the structure. The neighboring homes were not seriously damaged, but Doyle said vinyl siding on both homes was melted by the intense heat.
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of last night.
Doyle said investigators would likely resume the investigation this morning.
The residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.
One firefighter was injured when something fell on his back during the incident, Doyle said. He was taken to Mary Washington Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Doyle said two other house fires were reported while firefighters battled the blaze. Both turned out to be minor electrical fires that caused no serious damage.
Numerous Stafford departments responded to the Leeland Station blaze, as did firefighters from Fredericksburg.
