UPDATED: Manassas Fire Leaves 60 Homeless

Credit: Dale City Fire Dept.

Updated: Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m.

Approximately 60 people are displaced following a two-alarm fire that engulfed an apartment complex at 11211 Lady Jane Loop in Manassas.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to extinguish a reported fire in a third floor apartment that spread to two buildings in the complex.

Both buildings were declared unsafe by the Building Official's Office and were instructed to take assistance from a Chicago Fire Watch Company till the proper systems were installed. But the building officials failed to do so.

"Bozzuto Property Management and Red Cross assisted with relocation of displaced residents to a local hotel," said Fire & Rescue Public Information Specialist Kim Y. Hylander.

While there were no serious injuries, one resident suffered smoke inhalation, and four firefighters were treated at local hospitals.

"Preliminary damage estimate is $500,000.00," said Hylander. "Fire Marshals are in the preliminary stage of investigation in which the fire appears to have originated on the third floor and spread to the attic."

The cause of the blaze is still under Investigation  by fire investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office assisted by Safety personnel.

Credit: Dale City Fire Dept.

Original Story:

Prince William County Fire and Rescue units responded to a two-alarm fire in an apartment located at 11211 Lady Jane Loop near Sudley Manor Dr. in Manassas Monday evening just before 11 p.m.

The fire, which began on the third floor of the apartment building, left 60 residents displaced, some suffering from smoke inhalation, and a few responders disoriented at the scene.

Upon arrival, members of the first responding unit were dispatched to the third floor to extinguish the fire at close range. However, while working on that floor the roof collapsed on them, leaving a few members of the unit disoriented.

At this point, rescue responders initiated a Mayday. Ground ladders were moved to the third floor and the firefighters were reunited with their crews uninjured.

Firefighters then moved to a defensive operation, using aerial ladders to suppress the bulk of the fire from a safe location before re-entering with hose lines to mop up.

One resident of the apartment complex was transported to the hospital with symptoms of smoke inhalation, and two firefighters were transported to a medical facility for observation after rehab.

The Red Cross is assisting the residents of the building where the fire originated and the adjacent building as well.

The preliminary damage estimate is $300,000.  Fire investigators from the County’s Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing to investigate the cause of this fire.

Prince William County Police assisted with traffic and crowd management.