Firefighters battling a raging two-alarm Virginia house fire late Thursday, Sept. 24, were forced to retreat and attack the flames from outside after part of the home collapsed, officials said.
Crews were called to Fordson Road and Douglas Street in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County at 11:27 p.m. after multiple 911 callers reported heavy fire, black smoke and flames shooting through the roof.
When firefighters arrived, they found a two-story home engulfed in heavy fire on both levels.
Crews initially tried to get inside.
Then conditions deteriorated.
Part of the second floor and front porch collapsed, forcing firefighters to pull back and switch to an exterior attack, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Video released by the department shows firefighters working through intense flames as pieces of the burning structure begin falling around them.
With the fire still raging, crews stretched multiple hose lines around the property while working to keep the flames from spreading to a neighboring home.
They also had another problem behind the house.
Firefighters had to cool a fuel oil tank as crews continued attacking the blaze.
A second alarm was called to bring additional resources to the scene before firefighters eventually knocked down all visible flames.
No one was home when the fire broke out, officials said.
No firefighters or civilians were injured.
Investigators remained at the property Friday morning working to determine what sparked the fire.
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