Blaze destroys home in Manassas area

Fire destroyed a large house off Yates Ford Road this morning, sending up plumes of white smoke that could be seen for miles.

Fire officials reported that the house at 10401 Lowery Court was “fully involved” in flames about 10:30 a.m. No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported.

But fire crews were forced to battle the blaze from the exterior, unable to get inside for fear the house would collapse due to the intensity of the flames.

At least five fire companies were called to the scene. The first arriving firefighters found flames raging on nearly every side of the house, Prince William fire and rescue spokesman Randy Earl said. A neighbor first called 911 to report the blaze.

As fire trucks and rescue vehicles streamed into the neighborhood through heavy rain, residents gathered to watch the spectacle.

Heather Gossman said she lives just behind the burning house and came home as quickly as she could when she heard about the fire.

“It’s scary. I have a dog that I came back for because my house is so close,” Grossman said.

She said this is the second large fire in the neighborhood in the past six years.

Smoke continued to fill the skies into the afternoon as it billowed from the smoldering home.

Firefighters were dousing hot spots, though they said the blaze was under control.

The county fire marshal was headed to investigate the cause of the blaze.