1st LODD for Prince William County Fire

The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue has completed a preliminary review of the Monday morning fire that damaged a house on March Landing Drive in Woodbridge and killed firefighter Kyle Wilson. Here is a synopsis:

At 6:03 a.m., the initial alarm was dispatched for a single family house fire at 15474 Marsh Overlook Drive. Engine 512, Tower 512 and Medic 512 from OWL Station 12 in Woodbridge responded and arrived on the scene at 6:09 a.m. They discovered fire on the exterior of the structure involving the side and back of the house. Vehicles were in the driveway and garage. Believing that occupants might still be inside the home, an aggressive interior search was initiated with Lieutenant Jason Reese and Technician I Kyle Wilson going to the second floor to begin search and rescue efforts.

Conditions inside the home were initially clear, with full visibility and little smoke. Lt. Reese and Technician Wilson were able to search the large master bedroom suite standing up and walking through the area. During the search, the bedroom door suddenly slammed shut. Not finding any occupants in the master bedroom, they opened the door to search the remainder of the second floor and found conditions in the hallway had dramatically changed to zero visibility and extraordinary intense heat. Lt. Reese and Technician Wilson were together and attempted to exit the structure immediately.

At this point a catastrophic fire event occurred. Conditions inside the home quickly deteriorated from a light haze to heavy fire with thick black smoke and intense heat. At almost the same time, the roof
and ceiling collapsed into the second floor. The force of this event separated Lt. Reese and Technician Wilson, resulting in Lt. Reese falling down the stairs. Technician Wilson was forced in a different direction.

A MAYDAY was declared at 6:15 a.m. Technician Wilson activated his emergency button and provided an emergency radio report. Lt. Reese and several other crews made several valiant attempts to respond to the MAYDAY calls and locate Technician Wilson. Lt. Reese suffered second degree burns to both ears and one finger in those attempts.

The initial reports demonstrate that Fire and Rescue crews were following procedure by working in pairs and maintaining physical contact until the catastrophic fire event forcibly separated them. The severe wind conditions also had an effect on the intensity and rapid spread of the fire.

Officials have estimated the fire loss for the building and contents at $650,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Prince William County Fire Marshal's Office and is still
undetermined.

Funeral Details:

Viewing will be this Friday, April 20th from 2pm-4pm and then from 7pm-9pm at the Miller Funeral Home at 3200 Golansky Boulevard in Woodbridge Va. 703-878-2273.

There will be a reception directly after the late viewing at the Occoquan Volunteer Fire Department (directions will be available at the viewing).

Funeral Services will be Saturday at 4pm at the Nissan Pavilion, 7800 Cellar Door Dr, Bristow, Va. Interment will be private.