PETERSBURG, Va. -- No one was hurt when a massive fire burned a Petersburg home late Monday night into Tuesday morning. The fire, which burned a vacant home on West Washington Street, was initially reported at about 11:30 Monday night.
The flames not only destroyed the home, but also burned power lines, causing Dominion Energy to cut power to the area for safety.
When Petersburg Fire crews arrived on scene, the flames had already engulfed the house.
Fire crews went into a defensive operation, not allow firefighters to go inside the building, but instead they fought the flames from the outside.
Neighbors gathered to watch as the fire burned through the night.
Miranda Jones lives across the street from where the fire burned, and said she, and her four-month-old baby, were asleep when the fire first broke out.
"My mom, she came into the room, she’s running 'come out quick!' And the whole house was up in flames," said Jones.
Jones and several other neighbors recorded video of the flames on their phones.
"It was like big huge flames coming out of every part of the house," Jones said. "At one point the whole roof flew off and it looked like a big volcano was erupting."
Jones said her initial thought was to make sure her son was okay.
"My mom said you watch the baby and I'll watch the fire," she said.
Jones said the home that burned is a historic one, that's been there for years.
"It's sad to see something so pretty and old go up in flames."
Jones added that the fire, being so close to her own home, makes her worry that something like this could happen again.
"I hope they find whoever did it," she said.
The house fire was marked under control at about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is considered "suspicious" at this time.
This is a developing story. Witnesses can send news tips, photos, and video here.
