3/21/2010
Story and pictures courtesy of O.W.L. VFD
Submitted by Harold A. Worthy

15305 Postillion Terrace

At 6:44 PM Sunday evening, fire and rescue units from Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton VFD, Dale City VFD and PWC department of Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a reported apartment fire at 15308 Lord Culpepper Court. Seconds later a second fire was dispatched for a townhouse fire at 15305 Postillion Terrace, which backs up to Lord Culpepper Court. Fire and rescue units from mid county were dispatched and responding to the Postillion terrace address. Reading the updated information on the mobile computer in his chief’s truck, responding Battalion Chief Karl Fippinger quickly realized there was only one fire and it was at the second address of 15305 Postillion Terrace. Battalion Chief Fippinger requested the Prince William County Communications Center to redirect the fire and rescue units from the first call, which were the closest units, to the second and correct address on Postillion Terrace.

Engine 512 was the first fire unit on the scene reporting smoke from the roof. A minute later DCVFD Engine 510 arrived on the scene and reported fire through the roof. Firefighters from OWL and DCVFD quickly advanced two lines into the residence and extinguished the fire on the inside then began working on the fire on the rear of the townhouse.

The next arriving units were summoned to the adjoining townhouses on each side where they quickly contained the fire as it started to spread into each home. The fire had spread rapidly up the rear of the townhouse and extended into the adjoining townhouses on both sides. The fire in all three townhouses was brought under control within 20 minutes.

All residents were out of the house upon arrival of the fire department. The fire displaced the residents from 15305 and 15303. The American Red Cross was on the scene assisting both families. The residents at 15307 were allowed to return to their home a short time later. No injuries were reported.

As this report was prepared, the PWC Fire Marshall’s office was still conducting an investigation into the cause, which appears to be accidental.