CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. - An intense fire that started in the garage of a home on Traywick Drive in Enon and spread to the main house was caused by an faulty outlet.
"Chesterfield County Fire Marshals determined the fire started in the attached garage as a result of an electrical malfunction in the area of an electrical outlet. The garage suffered extensive damage while the living area of the home only suffered moderate fire and smoke damage," Chesterfield Fire and EMS spokesman Lt. Jason Elmore said.
Chesterfield Fire crews were called to the house at 11:11 p.m. Wednesday. When crews arrived at the home, they found heavy flames shooting from the attached garage. By that time, the fire had spread into the main house.
Five people who lived in the fire damaged home were able to get out unharmed. The Red Cross was called to assist the family. The damage to the home's garage was significant, according Elmore. He said the fire did some damage to the main home too and noted that there was smoke damage throughout the main home. The flames were so intense, Elmore said, that at one point that the house next door was in danger of catching fire. A second alarm was requested to help protect the neighbor's home.
"I was coming down the road. I could see flames from the road. It had pretty much engulfed the whole garage side of the house," witness Stephen Adams said. "When I got to my house, I could still see the flames from over there on top of the houses."
Elmore said the fire did damage the neighbor's house, however the damage was contained to the home's exterior and the family should be able to stay in the home. A total of five engine companies and one ladder company responded to the fire.
