Electrical fire sparked Dale City apartment blaze

By Kari Pugh

Published: November 21, 2008

A kitchen electrical fire sparked Thursday’s two-alarm blaze in a Dale City apartment building, fire investigators said.

Flames swept through the third and fourth floors of the building on Watson Lane in the Dale Forest Apartments complex around dinnertime, forcing at least 30 people from their homes.

A 12-year-old boy who lives there says he went door-to-door warning people to get out. Firefighters had to rescue three residents who were trapped in the smoke and flames.

No one was hurt, but five families still haven’t been able to go home.

The Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping those families with shelter, clothes and food.

The charity helped another 10 families who were forced out in the cold Thursday night while firefighters made sure their apartments were safe.

“We assisted on the scene with those families with … blankets, food, comfort items,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Deborah Campbell.

The Red Cross has been called to the scene of every recent residential fire over the past few weeks, and there have been many. On Nov. 12, fire destroyed a large house on Lowery Court near Manassas. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was completely engulfed. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the blaze.

On Nov. 14, a grease fire caused $100,000 in damage to a home on West Longview Drive in Woodbridge.
Three days later, a woman was killed when, police allege, her husband set fire to their town house on Valley Stream Drive in Woodbridge. That same day, an electrical blaze swept through a house in Manassas, leaving a man and his dog homeless.

In the Dale Forest Apartments fire, investigators said the cause of the fire was electrical, but did not elaborate. The fire left at least $220,000 in damage to five apartments.

In all, the recent rash of fires has caused more $1.6 million in devastation.

“For the Prince William chapter, our mission is to help people affected by disasters and in the area, and the number one disaster we’re likely to face is a home fire,” Campbell said.

Each fire taxes the charity’s resources at a time when donations are taking a nosedive along with the economy. But the community usually comes through.

“The assistance we provide is free and we are available 24/7, even on holidays,” Campbell said. “We’re able to assist through generous donations, neighbors helping neighbors.”

Kari Pugh can be reached at 703-878-8056.