The home prior to the fire and explosion
MARCH 13, 2015
BEDFORD CO., VIRGINIA (WSLS 10)
One child and six adults are being assisted by the Red Cross
after their two story home caught fire in Bedford overnight.
The Bedford Fire Department says units responded to 511
South Street for multiple reports of an explosion and a house on fire. Fire
officials say the first unit arrived at 12:29 a.m. Friday to find heavy fire
showing from the wood-frame home.
Neighbors tell WSLS 10 they heard a blast from as far as a few blocks away. One neighbor reported it looked like "A fireball in the sky."
Two people inside were initially reported missing. After a primary and secondary search, fire officials say they were located at a nearby house. Seven people total have been displaced; six adults and one child.
A representative from the Red Cross responded and assisted those occupants with housing and other immediate needs, officials say.
It took about 20 minutes for crews to get the fire under control. Twenty-eight firefighters from the Town of Bedford, Moneta, and Forest responded to this incident.
The property owners tells WSLS 10 he plans to tear the house down, as there is too much damage. He says the section of the home where it appears the fire started was a space where some of the residents smoked on occasion. He also said there was a gas grill with a propane tank nearby, which may have led to the large explosion neighbors saw and heard.
No injuries were reported. The Bedford Fire Department says the fire is thought to be accidental, but is being investigated by the Bedford County Fire Marshall's Office.
Neighbors tell WSLS 10 they heard a blast from as far as a few blocks away. One neighbor reported it looked like "A fireball in the sky."
Two people inside were initially reported missing. After a primary and secondary search, fire officials say they were located at a nearby house. Seven people total have been displaced; six adults and one child.
A representative from the Red Cross responded and assisted those occupants with housing and other immediate needs, officials say.
It took about 20 minutes for crews to get the fire under control. Twenty-eight firefighters from the Town of Bedford, Moneta, and Forest responded to this incident.
The property owners tells WSLS 10 he plans to tear the house down, as there is too much damage. He says the section of the home where it appears the fire started was a space where some of the residents smoked on occasion. He also said there was a gas grill with a propane tank nearby, which may have led to the large explosion neighbors saw and heard.
No injuries were reported. The Bedford Fire Department says the fire is thought to be accidental, but is being investigated by the Bedford County Fire Marshall's Office.
Source:www.wfla.com