One dead in Front Royal apartment complex fire, investigation underway

Warren County firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze at Building 47 of Royal Hills Apartments Wednesday. One person died, two firefighters were injured. The blaze remains under investigation. / Courtesy photos

A woman was found dead in her apartment Wednesday after an early-morning fire that originated in her apartment in Building 47 of Royal Hills Apartments in Front Royal.

The woman, 51, was not identified in a press release from the office of Warren County Fire Chief Richard Mabie. She was the lone occupant of the apartment at the time of the fire.

The release states that at 7:24 a.m. on Wednesday, the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services responded to 47 Royal Lane for a reported apartment fire. Units quickly arrived on the scene to find a fire in the third-floor apartment. Firefighters and Front Royal Police officers worked to evacuate the 10-unit building while other firefighters focused on extinguishing the blaze.

About a half-hour into fighting the fire, a firefighter fell through the floor, according to the release. Additional firefighters rescued the firefighter, who was evaluated by EMS personnel and transported to Warren Memorial Hospital. The firefighter was treated for minor burn injuries and later returned to work.

During the course of working the incident, a second firefighter sustained a minor injury and was treated for a sprained ankle.

The fire originated in the third-floor apartment of Building 47, in which the sole occupant, an unidentified woman, 51, was found dead.

The apartment complex sustained significant damage as a result of the fire; occupants of all 10 units were displaced. It took firefighters just over an hour to bring the fire under control.

American Red Cross representatives were on the scene to assist the families with temporary housing. Chief Mabie estimated that the fire caused approximately $500,000 in property damage and contents loss.

The cause of the fire incident is being investigated by the Warren County Fire Marshal Office. The Front Royal Police Criminal Investigations Division, Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office Canine Division and the Office of the Medical Examiner assisted on the incident scene. The cause of the fire and death of the occupant remains under investigation.

Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico confirmed by text Wednesday evening that Warren County Fire Units on Tuesday, one day prior to the fire, “responded to the complex and found normal conditions with no safety risk to the occupants.”

Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding the fire to contact Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico at 540-636-3830 or Front Royal Police Detective D.L. Fogle at 540-636-2208.