Neighbor, Officer Help Alert Residents To Woodbridge House Fire

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A neighbor's car horn followed by a police officer's knock on the door helped residents safely escape a house fire in the Woodbridge area early Monday.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue responded around 4:16 a.m. Monday to the 15500 block of Merrily Way in Woodbridge near Montclair. Crews found heavy fire and smoke showing from the back of the single-family house. A rapid fire attack helped firefighters quickly control the blaze.

Two adults and a child were safely out of the home before firefighters arrived. The fire department attributed the rescue to a neighbor attempting to wake residents using a car horn and a Prince William County police officer knocking on the door. The police officer's knocking alerted the residents, who were helped out of the home by the officer. There were no injuries.

According to the fire marshal's office, the fire started outside the home and spread inside due to improperly discarded smoking materials.

The home had moderate damage and was deemed unsafe to occupy. The three residents were displaced.