CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Two people are displaced from their home after a large house fire in Chesapeake.
The Chesapeake Fire Department says that they received a call about a fire in the South Norfolk area of the City at about 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. They arrived six minutes later and found a house with flames billowing on the back of the home from the first floor.
Chesapeake and Norfolk firefighters deployed multiple hose lines. The fire was controlled in 13 minutes.
The two residents were able to evacuate safely before the Fire Department's arrival.
The fire's damage was bad enough to make it inhabitable. The Red Cross is providing lodging assistance to the family.
Fire Marshals determined the fire was accidental, starting on the back deck.
The Chesapeake Fire Department said that the incident "is another example of the continued success of the automatic-aid program. With neighboring cities sharing resources, the closest units are dispatched to an emergency, regardless of city boundaries." This is why Norfolk Engine Company 8 was the first responder to the incident and prevented as much damage as possible.