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GARRISONVILLE FIRE DISPLACES 18 PEOPLE
House with 18 residents gutted in Stafford fire
Date published: 6/3/2009
BY KEITH EPPS Stafford County fire officials are crediting a smoke alarm with saving lives during a fire yesterday that destroyed a home and displaced 18 residents. The fire erupted about 3:40 a.m. at 35 Vista Woods Road in the Garrisonville area, Lt. Mark Stone of Stafford fire and rescue services said. The fire, which was started by an improperly disposed of cigarette outside the home near the porch, did an estimated $244,000 worth of damage. All 18 residents--10 adults and eight children--escaped after a fire alarm woke them up. Only one resident was injured; she suffered non-life-threatening injuries after she got out through a first-floor window, Stone said. "We cannot overstate the importance of having working smoke alarms," Stafford Fire and Rescue Chief Rob Brown said. "It is clear that an early-warning device saved lives during this incident." The fire was already showing through the roof when the first of numerous firefighters arrived on the scene. Four automobiles and a recreational vehicle were also damaged in the fire, along with the exterior siding of a neighbor's home. The Red Cross is assisting the victims. Meanwhile, Stafford code compliance officers are investigating whether any county laws were violated by having so many people in one home. Court records show that the 2,076-square-foot home is owned by Santos Corras and Ninfa Salguero and had three full baths and four bedrooms. Stone said the house was being rented and that the owners were not there when the fire broke out. Cathy Riddle, county spokeswoman, said an investigation began yesterday. She said both the owners and the renter could be issued citations if violations are found. The code also allows the county to take violators to court if they refuse to vacate the property, but in this case the home was destroyed. "We're just glad they're all safe," Riddle said. "That was our No. 1 priority." Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 6/3/2009
wow that is awful
(posted by
yellowsky
, June 9, 2009 9:35 pm)
I grew up in this house, my family built it when i was about 1 1/2 yrs old. i moved from it when i was twelve i just found out what happened and my family is pretty upset. i think the poeple living there were up to no good anyways i heard, so its probably for the best i will remember it in my heart though as my home in the VA. I had a wonderful life when i lived there.
if you ever see
(posted by
Jaes
, June 3, 2009 7:25 pm)
a house with the screen door propped open that means there is a room for rent. Im curious to know with 18 occupants if that door was propped open.
Just do a search on FLS for previous trouble at that address
(posted by
neighborly
, June 3, 2009 6:15 pm)
The occupants have trashed that home for years and the landlord AND renter should be held accountable for the way they allowed the property to degrade prior to this fire. The adults in the home were not immigrants as some have proposed. I find it extremely offesive to suggest that neighbors would be suspect as arsonist or potential murderers.. If you wander the neighborhood at Vista Woods you'll find hard working law abiding homeowners. To suggest a nieghor conspriacy is ignorant.
what is wrong with talking about race or ethnicity?
(posted by
ocbeta
, June 3, 2009 5:03 pm)
everyobody stereotypes no matter what group they belong to. so don't pick on anyone because they address race.
The house in question absolutely reflects a pattern repeated universally when large groups of immigrants no matter legal or not, no matter what ethnicity come to a country.
right now the big wave happens to be spanish speakers. so you can safely assume that the folks living in squalid conditions in that house are potentially illegals being helped and taken advantage of by the landlord
Wow
(posted by
sarguy
, June 3, 2009 3:03 pm)
18 people in one house! Well, that beats the 12 “family members” we have in a townhouse next to us. Wonder if the neighbors in Vista have to put up with the occupants peeing in the front yard because of only 1 ½ bathrooms in the residence.
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