WOODBRIDGE, VA – A horrific fire incident in Prince William County, Virginia, turned fatal as a woman and her two young sons were found dead after firefighters battled the blaze early on Friday.
The fire broke out around 5:50 a.m. in a two-story, single-family residence on Piedmont Place, Woodbridge, according to county fire officials. Inhabitants living in the house’s basement managed to escape the roaring flames unscathed. However, three other occupants were reported missing. By afternoon, fire officials had confirmed the unfortunate discovery of three deceased individuals.
The victims were identified as Sameena Begum, 49, and her two boys, aged 10 and 12, by a family member. The father, who was absent during the raging fire due to his overnight work shift, returned home only to be met by a grim scene of sirens and emergency vehicles.
The fire had already inflicted significant destruction by the time fire crews arrived on the scene within five minutes of the 911 call. The inferno caused the interior structure to collapse, rendering the house unstable. Images from the scene display a greatly damaged and charred structure, with most of the dwelling completely destroyed.
The origin and cause of this deadly fire remain under investigation, and foul play has not been suggested. According to officials, the house was equipped with functional smoke detectors.
The county’s fire and police departments will jointly investigate the case, aided by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) due to the deaths and severity of the fire.