Agressive fire-fighting saves family hunting lodge

Fire escapes from a two-story structure at the end of Shadows Drive in Warren County Saturday evening./Photos courtesy Warren County Fire & Rescue.

WARREN COUNTY – A Saturday evening fire at an unoccupied residence at the end of Shadows Drive in Blue Ridge Shadows subdivision caused about $100,000 in damages, according to Warren County Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico.

The four-alarm fire was located through the subdivision into a farm owned by David Seekford of Headquarters Road of Stephens City. The blaze was discovered at 9: 24 p.m. by an off-duty Warren Sheriff’s Office employee who lives on Shadows Drive.

First responders arrived minutes later to find a large two story balloon frame residence with fire and smoke showing from the second floor and roof. Fire also broke through the second floor windows in rear.

Maiatico said an aggressive attack was made on the fire, which resulted in most of the first floor being saved from the blaze.

Mr. Seekford said the structure, which was built in the 1900’s, has been used as a hunting lodge for many years.

The cause of this fire is under investigation by the Warren County Fire Marshal’s office and is being ruled accidental from an apparent electrical short in the rear wall assembly.

Aggressive fire-fighting saved this structure, built in the 1900’s, according to owner David Seekford.

Maiatico said in a media release that the “fire traveled up in the wall and out into the second floor storage room, until it entered the attic and out the windows, where the fire was seen from the adjoining subdivision.”

No one was injured in the incident; the loss is estimated to be approximately $100,000.
Warren County Fire and Rescue was assisted by Frederick County Fire and Rescue, according to the media release.