PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - A couple is talking about witnessing their neighbor's home go up in flames early Friday morning in Prince George County.
Official said the fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. in the 3500 block of Union Branch Road in the Cedarwood subdivision. [READ MORE: Cedarwood neighborhood home burned in overnight fire]
Roberta Grant told CBS 6 News' Shelby Brown that she did not first know what the loud popping sound was that awakened her early Friday morning. When Grant began looking around her home, it dawned on her that the sound was coming from outside.
She peered outside and couldn't believe her eyes. Her neighbor’s home was consumed by flames, burning to the ground.
“I went to the window and was like oh my goodness. I panicked and ran to the other room to grab my husband. I said 'oh my gosh I hope nobody’s at home,'” explained Grant.
Within minutes the fire department was on the scene and trucks lined Union Branch Road.
Investigators still don’t know the cause of the fire and did not specify where in the home it started.
Initially they were concerned that the family who lives there was inside.
“When I called 911 the dispatcher asked if there was anyone inside," said James Grant. "I said 'I don’t know.' I know earlier they were there but I told her I’d have to go and see if their van was there. I went out in the yard and I didn’t see their van."
Neighbors said the family of four has been living in the home for about 15 years or so.
“I knew the wife and the kids were gone. Now they have to come home to this. It’s a bad tragedy. I wouldn’t want to do it. It’s hard,” added Roberta.
After a thorough search crews determined that no one was inside of the burning home. Crews spent a few hours trying to take down the fire and making sure hot spots didn’t flare up again.
Investigators are now trying to determine what caused the fire.
In the meantime, a family is now trying to figure out how they’ll get through this, and where they’ll go from here.
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