Burn Ban Didn't Help Keep Fires Down

Prince William County fire and rescue officials this Friday issued a fire ban as they were facing dry conditions with big bursts of wind ahead in the forecast.

But in less than 24 hours, six brush fires erupted on Saturday, requiring the largest fire and rescue response in three decades. Remarkably, no one was injured as career fire fighters worked seamlessly with volunteer fire fighters to defeat blazes on more than 300 acres in less than seven hours.

Fire fighters even saved one family home from destruction, Manassas Patch reports.

The next door neighbor's home had been completely destroyed with only the chimney remaining.

"The firefighters did a great job," said resident Jeffrey Brown, whose home only sustained minor damage next to the unoccupied home that was destroyed.

At one time, 96 units were out responding to the fires on more than 300 total acres.

Fire and rescue officials praised everyone who helped and one chief thanked namely the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department for calling in off-duty volunteers to back-up emptied stations across the county. The team effort was the reason no one was injured and all six fires were brought under control with minimal damages, he said.

The 60 people evacuated from Occoquan Forest did not need the shelter that the Red Cross opened at the Jackson Fire Department in Manassas, and it was closed at 8:30 p.m.

The fire was on a 200-acre parcel and the wind gusts fell a tree that toppled power lines. Dominion Power said it would have all power back on by Sunday.

The three-alarm fire in Occoquan Forest required 52 unites. Fire fighters used so much water that a drinking advisory was put into effect and residents were warned to boil and then cool water before drinking it. The drinking water advisory is still in effect.

By 9:30 p.m., the fire was under control and all roads had been opened.

Another large fire was behind K-mart near the Interstate 95 exit for Dale City. This fire required 10 units to respond to the 25-acre parcel. Stores were closed early as a safety precaution and a portion of the interstate had to be shut down as heavy smoke billowed across the heavily used interstate.

A 29-year-old man was charged yesterday with carelessly damaging property by fire. The Fire Marshall's Office said it believes that the man did not completely extinguish a trash fire in a wooded area behind K-mart. This fire was out by 9:30 p.m.
 
Then in Lake Jackson near Rt. 234 and Sinclair Mill, six more units responded to a 1-acre brush fire. The fire was brought under control quickly.

Another brush fire at Prince William Parkway and Smoketown Road required 19 units to respond to a 25-acre parcel. This fire was under control at 10 p.m.

Another 11 units put out a fire near Interstate 95 and Cardinal Drive on 35 acres. This fire was under control by 10 p.m.

The final brush fire was near Northern Virginia Community College. Five units responded to this 10-acre parcel and brought the fire under control by 9:30 p.m.

Only one arrest has been made. Causes for the five other fires, including the huge one off Lake Forest Drive, have not been founded. Some stations have been called out today to Occoquan Forest to drop water on some hot spots that kept simmering.