Space Heater Caused Dale City Fire That Displaced 3: Fire Marshal

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A space heater sparked a fire at a home in Dale City on Tuesday afternoon, according to the fire marshal's office.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.

The fire displaced the home's three residents, who are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

The fire began around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at a home in the 13000 block of Redstone Drive, the fire department said in a report. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they saw smoke billowing from the single-family house. The residents, two adults and a child, had already evacuated, authorities said.

The property sustained "moderate damage," before firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, according to officials.

Investigators determined that a space heater in a second-story office sparked the fire.

"The Fire Marshal’s Office warns everyone to use caution whenever utilizing space heaters," officials said in a news release. "Do not leave unattended, keep combustibles at least 3 feet away, isolate from small children and pets."