Dale City Firefighter Injured in Woodbridge Townhouse Fire

A Dale City volunteer firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation at Potomac Hospital for smoke inhalation after a three-alarm townhouse fire in Woodbridge Tuesday evening. The firefighter 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 after the call was received at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Heavy smoke was coming 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.

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.

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. 

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