Three people of Woodbridge, Virginia, have perished in an early Friday morning fire. The event happened at a two-story, single-family house on Piedmont Place at 15700 block around six in a.m. Although local fire crews answered quickly to the incident, the strength of the flames severely damaged the building.
Though several hours passed before confirmation that three others were missing, residents of the basement flat managed to flee without injury. Late morning fire officers found the bodies of two small boys and a lady. Later on, authorities named the victims as Sameena Begum, 49, together with an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old lad.
According to reports, the man who lived in the house was absent during the fire’s time. The American Red Cross helped impacted people while support services—including a chaplain and a therapy dog—were sent to the scene.
Working to confine the smouldering remains, emergency staff stayed at the site all day. Aerial video showed major damage; the roof and most of the house fell, leaving only portions of the front facade intact. Emergency trucks abound in the area as responders painstakingly tried to stabilise the remains of the structure.
Fire crews arrived minutes after the first contact, according first assessments, but the strength of the fire had already caused permanent damage. Using specialised techniques to find any survivors among the dangerous surroundings, aggressive firefighting and search activities were launched.
Although foul play is not suspected right now, a thorough inquiry is under progress to find the source. The local police and fire agencies are working together on the investigation; the seriousness of the incident is causing federal ATF resources to be provided.
Prince William County’s Assistant Fire Chief Matt Smolsky in an official statement said, “This remains an active scene, and a thorough examination is essential to understand what led to this tragic event.”
