Large Fire Destroys Home; No Inuries Reported

UPDATE: 8 p.m.

Prince William County fire officials: all area fires are under control, including 3-alarm fire that threatened homes in the Occoquan Forest neighborhood near Manassas. All area roads are reopened, including Davis Ford Road. Dominion Power will be assessing power issues in the neighborhood following fire damage to wires. No injuries reported to firefighters or residents, officials confirm.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.

Prince William County Spokesperson Jason Grant said fire in Buckhall area near Occoquan Forest neighborhood went to 3 alarms and is still burning. Boiled water advisory remains in effect for residents of the Occoquan Forest area due to loss of water pressure caused from use of water to combat fires in the area. Some residents have lost phone and power service due to damaged lines. A total of 60 residents have been evacuated because of fire, smoke threat. Lake Jackson fire station is also serving as a shelter for residents in need. The shelter at Lake Jackson VFD will close at 8:30 if no one reports for assistance.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.

police in Prince William County have closed down Davis Ford Road from Yates Ford Road all the way to Occoquan Forest Drive.  The fire reportedly jumped Davis Ford Road.

ORIGINAL POST

Prince William County Fire Assistant Chief Warren Whitley confirmed the department has been working three significant fires as of 4 p.m. Saturday.

A large fire in the Buckhall area of Prince William County near Manassas spread across several acres Saturday and destroyed at least one home along Lake Forest Drive in the Occoquan Forest neighborhood and damaged another, according to fire officials. Multiple vehicles were burned and several detached outbuildings and garages were also damaged, officials said.

Witnesses at the scene said they saw the destroyed home and said only the chimney remained. Fire officials confirmed the residents of the home were able to self-evacuate. Neighborhood residents told fire officials a tree fell on a power line, igniting the fire, according to a preliminary report by fire officials.

Residents who live along the west side of Occoquan Forest Drive from Davis Ford Road to Lake Forest Drive were evacuated, according to officials. Residents can go to the nearby Buckhall Fire Station on Yates Ford Road for shelter where the Red Cross is assisting those displaced from their homes.

Elsewhere in the county, smoke from multiple working fires made for low visibility along I-95 during much of the day Saturday, prompting officials to close down the northbound lanes. As of 5 p.m., all lanes were reported reopened, but caution is still advised as visibility remains low because of heavy smoke.

Assistant Chief Whitely said a total of 96 units are on various calls throughout the county and off-duty personnel have been recalled. 

Fire officials urge any outdoor flame should be avoided in dry, windy conditions. This includes grilling and smoking cigarettes, officials said.