Aug 23, 2022, News Release
Firefighters responded to a Lake Monticello house fire this morning after a neighbor reported seeing smoke. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire near Beach 5 is still under investigation, according to officials.
“At approximately 8:37 AM, the Lake Monticello Fire Department, Palmyra Fire Company and Fork Union Fire Company were dispatched to the 700 block of Jefferson Drive for a reported structure fire with visible smoke from the eaves of the structure and fire alarms sounding from inside the residence,” said Lake Monticello Fire Chief Richie Constantino.
Constantino said the home appeared to be unoccupied. “There were no vehicles in the driveway nor residents outside the home,” he said. “Firefighters entered the residence by the front door and discovered heavy smoke banked down to the floor. Firefighters entered the home to conduct a primary search for any potential victims and to locate the fire.”
No victims were discovered, the chief said.
“Simultaneously, firefighters went to the rear of the structure, to the area of a walk-out basement, where they observed the basement windows heavily smoke stained with a thick smoke inside,” the chief said.
Constantino said firefighters used a nearby garden hose after forcing open the basement entrance door and breaking the windows “to alleviate the heat and smoke from inside and to improve visibility and the viability of any trapped victims.”
Once inside, the firefighters discovered the fire in a basement bedroom and its surrounding areas, he said. “Firefighters held the fire in check with the garden hose, while an attack hose line from Lake Monticello Fire Department Engine 51, was stretched to the rear of the residence,” the chief said, adding that the fire hose immediately extinguished the fire.
A secondary and more methodical search of the structure for potential victims was conducted, confirming that the home was empty, according to Constantino.
Specialized positive pressure fans were placed into operation to evacuate the remaining smoke and products of combustion from the structure, while the firefighters examined the residence for any fire extension and opened walls searching for hidden fire, the chief said.
Lake Monticello Rescue Squad was also on the scene for standby duty and firefighter rehabilitation. Members of the Lake Monticello Police Department and Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene to block traffic on Jefferson Drive, which was closed.
The cause of this fire is currently under investigation by investigators of the Lake Monticello Fire Department and the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office.
