BY JEFF BRANSCOME

A child playing with fire in a Spotsylvania County home on Thursday evening resulted in $25,000 in damage, Deputy Fire Chief Monty Willaford said.

The fire started in a bedroom closet and spread throughout the bedroom of the single-story home on the 8900 block of Jennings Lane off Robert E. Lee Drive, he said. The flames came out a window and damaged a porch.

The house’s five residents, which included three children, evacuated without injury, Willaford said. They were alerted to the fire by a smoke detector.

Willaford wouldn’t say exactly what the child did to cause the fire. “We don’t get into any specifics involving child actions,” he said.

The 911 call came at 6:09 p.m., and the first fire engine from Courthouse Station 1 arrived about 10 minutes later.

The fire was under control about five minutes after they arrived on the scene, Willaford said.
The house was valued at around $125,000, Willaford said. The family is staying with friends.

About 35 career and volunteer firefighters responded to the incident, Willaford said. One firefighter had minor burns to his hand and was transported to a local hospital.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
jbranscome@freelancestar.com