A townhouse fire in the Skiffes Creek community of Grove destroyed one home and damaged two others Saturday night, leaving a total of 10 people displaced by the blaze, two of them injured, officials say.
According to a James City County news release, firefighters began battling the “intense fire” shortly after receiving a 911 call around 11 p.m. Saturday, reporting flames coming from a home in the 1700 block of Skiffes Creek Circle.
Firefighters from York County, the City of Williamsburg, Camp Peary and the Naval Weapons Station fire departments provided aid in extinguishing the fire.
The homeowner was able to escape through the front door and was treated and released on the scene, after declining transport to the hospital, the release stated.
His 15-year-old son was briefly trapped inside the home and used a second story window to escape. He was transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center and was reported to be in stable condition at 4 a.m. Sunday.
A second youth, an 18-year-old, was initially reported as trapped and firefighters began an immediate search and rescue, but it was later discovered he was not home at the time.
The fire caused “extensive damage” to the home, the release stated. Two adjacent townhomes were also damaged in the fire. A total of 10 people, from three families, were displaced as a result of the fire.
The Red Cross is assisting two of the families, and one family is staying with friends, the release stated.
Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.
