Two Killed in House Fire in Spotsylvania

A house fire early Tuesday claimed the lives of two people in Spotsylvania County, according to the local fire department. The victims, a man and a woman, were between 60-65. Their identities have not been confirmed.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation, according to the Spotsylvania County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management.

There were at least three smoke detectors in the home, but none had batteries, according to fire officials. It’s a reminder — especially this time of year as clocks are changed, to change the batteries in your home smoke detector.

Fire and rescue personnel arrived at 2:27 a.m. at the burning house in the 11700 block of Post Oak Road after a neighbor called an emergency dispatcher to report the blaze, the fire department said.

The fire crews worked to extinguish the flames while searching for occupants in the house, while tankers hauled water from a hydrant several miles away, the fire department said. They brought the fire under control within 20 minutes.

About 10 minutes after arriving, they found and removed one female occupant who was not breathing, and began life-saving efforts. She went into cardiac arrest during transport to a local hospital, and later died at the hospital, the fire department said.

The second victim was located in the house shortly after the first occupant was located, but had already succumbed to the fire, the fire department said.

One firefighter sustained minor burn injuries and was treated at the scene.