Townhouse Fire on Winding Loop Displaces One Family

Update, 10:36 a.m.: 

The preliminary damage estimate for the two townhouses is $400,000, according to the Fire Marshal's Office in a county release this morning. 

"The townhouse where the fire originated is a total loss and an adjacent townhouse was also substantially damaged," the release read. "A representative from the Building Official’s Office posted the two involved units as unsafe structures."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. 

Original story: 

A townhouse fire on Winding Loop Drive near Route 1 in Woodbridge early this morning has displaced one family and damaged a neighboring house. 

Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Firefighters responded at 1:06 a.m. to the report of a fire. 

"OWL VFD Engine 512 arrived on scene within minutes reporting a townhouse fully engulfed in fire," OWL VFD Public Information Officer Rebecca Barnes said in a release. "Fire was declared a defensive operation." 

The townhouse was vacant and was in a previous house fire on Oct. 7, 2011. But damage to a neighboring house meant that one family was displaced. The PWC Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

"Fire and Rescue units from OWL VFD, Dale City VFD, and PWC Department of Fire and Rescue responded to the incident," Barnes said.