A townhouse fire on Lambsgate Lane shook the neighborhood late yesterday afternoon, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at 3:36 p.m., as units from Prince William County Fire and Rescue rushed to the scene following a distress call.
Battalion Chief Matt Smolksy reported that upon arrival, smoke was visible from the front of the structure, prompting a swift response from firefighters.
The structure, not predominantly utilized as a residence, was swiftly addressed by the arriving crews, who efficiently brought the situation under control within less than 30 minutes, a fire and rescue spokeswoman said.
The blaze claimed the lives of numerous animals. Fortunately, there were no reports of additional injuries. Presently, the fire is the subject of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office.
In a ceremony on Wednesday, February 14, at 10 a.m., the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue celebrated the graduation of Recruit Class 2023-2 at the Grace Life Community Church, at 9560 Linton Hall Road.
Battalion Chief Scott Arft presided over the ceremony, marking the end of months of training for the Fire and Rescue Technicians of Class 2023-2. These individuals completed 27 weeks of rigorous academic and physical training at the Department’s Public Safety Training Center in Nokesville, Virginia.
Fortunately, it was later determined that the lone occupant was not present at the time of the fire, thus no injuries were reported.
Efforts to combat the blaze resulted in the rescue of two dogs. A cat succumbed to its injuries. The residence suffered significant damage, rendering it uninhabitable, as deemed by the Building Official. The American Red Cross has stepped in to aid the victim.
In Dumfries, fire and rescue units responded to a call reporting smoke at a townhouse in the 17000 block of Denali Place.
Crews arrived to find flames on the home’s front. The fire was controlled with hose lines. Only one occupant was present and evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.
Fredericksburg police found the body of the 22-year-old Darius Appiah, who had been reported missing by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on January 25.
Police found the body in Hazel Run, at the intersection of Blue and Grey Parkway and Lafayette Boulevard, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. As part of the investigative process, Appiah’s body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
“It was crazy,” said Brandon Taylor, the father who helped with his wife, Joan, as the express lanes traffic whizzed by. “You hear the stories, but you never know someone that went through it.”
It all started about 5:45 on Tuesday morning, January 30, 2024, when Joan could feel the baby stirring. She woke up, woke Brandon, and he went into his pre-rehearsed motions, grabbing the baby bag they had ready and getting their three-year-old son out of bed. “Twenty minutes later, we were on the highway, and it was happening,” Brandon said.
The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is contacting the public for assistance in identifying a suspect involved in an intentional vehicle fire that occurred on Tuesday, January 30, in the 1100 block of Interstate Business Park, near the Paradise Diner on Route 17.
At 10:30 p.m., Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) responded to a reported vehicle fire involving a medium-duty work truck. SCFR personnel extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported.
If pipes freeze, the fire and rescue department said, first and foremost, shut off the water immediately and emphasized the importance of knowing how and where to perform this task.
If pipes remain frozen, the recommendation is to thaw them out using warm air from heaters or a hair dryer, with a caution against leaving heaters unattended. Once thawed, water can be slowly turned back on, and individuals are advised to check pipes and joints for cracks. Opening a faucet is also recommended to allow water to flow through the pipe.
“Ice that is formed during a continuous, hard freeze, typical of northern climates, is much stronger than ice formed during temperatures that repeatedly fluctuate above and below the freezing mark. Ice that forms where water levels change frequently, or where the water is moving, such as storm water ponds, rivers, and streams is especially dangerous because its thickness will vary with the conditions and may contain cracks.”
“Should an individual or animal fall into icy waters, moderate to severe hypothermia can occur in less than 10 minutes. The window of opportunity for a successful rescue closes rapidly beyond that time. Therefore, the primary challenge for rescuers is time.”
