STAFFORD COUNTY — Fire crews were called to a fire inside a three-story apartment.
At 11:39 p.m. Sunday, crews from the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department were called to the 200 block of Chivalry Way in the Berea off Route 17.
They found a three story garden apartment with significant fire from the balcony of a second-floor apartment. The fire had extended into the third-floor apartment and also into the attic and roof.
Crews started an attack on the fire and were able to evacuate all 12 apartments. The fire was extinguished within minutes, and the damage was contained to the exterior of the building and a third-floor apartment, said Stafford fire chief Joseph Cardello.
Residents of eight apartments were displaced due to smoke and water damage. There were no injuries to any occupants or fire and rescue personnel.
One dog was rescued from apartment 201 and taken into animal control custody. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature, and the preliminary cause was improperly disposed of smoking materials.
Units from the Berea, Hartwood, Falmouth, Mountain View, Stafford and Brooke Stations, as well as mutual aide units from the City of Fredericksburg operated on scene for 3.5 hours. Dominion Energy, and the Stafford County Building Official also assisted.
