Update: Fire Rips Through Three Town Houses in Woodbridge

Update: April 27: A Dale City volunteer firefighter was transported to Potomac Hospital for smoke inhalation and was released a short time later, according a press release from public relations specialist for OWL VFD Rebecca Barnes. 

Three homes were damaged in the 2200 block of Merseyside Drive. OWL Engine 512 arrived on the scene within minutes and reported heavy smoke from the row of townhouses. The engine officer quickly checked the rear of the townhouses to find fire had completely engulfed the exterior wall of the end unit and portions of the adjacent townhouse.

A second alarm was requested due to the amount of fire. Residents reported all occupants were out of the townhouses. Taking the high winds into account and the information from engine 512’s officer, the responding Battalion Chief summoned a third alarm less than two minutes later.

Wednesday morning, the four townhouses were roped off with police tape and restoration crews were boarding up windows while preparing to make repairs. A Washington gas truck also was parked near the homes. 

Original Post: 

At 6:30 p.m. a call was dispatched for a three-alarm in the gated Potomac Club townhome neighborhood off of Merseyside Drive across the street from the Potomac Town Center. 

Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Rebecca Barnes said that Engine 12 was the first on the scene and that OWL VFD were on the scene “within minutes.”

The fire was contained but as of yet, the cause of fire is unknown. Battalion Chief Joe Robertson of Prince William County Fire and Rescue said the Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. 

Three townhouse units were damaged in the blaze, said Barnes. No residents were injured, but Barnes said two dogs were saved from the fire, which started in an end unit.

Barnes said that the thus far the following fire companies responded to the blaze: all three OWL VFD stations, Dale City, Dumfries-Triangle, Manassas, Coles and Quantico.

Barnes said that no OWL volunteer firefighters were injured in the fire.    

More information on the fire should be forthcoming.