Homeless: Smoke alarms wake Manassas area household

A family is homeless after a fire ravaged their Manassas area home Saturday morning.

Three adults and two children were asleep at 6207 River Forest Drive when smoke alarms sounded just after 2 a.m. When they woke up, they were surrounded by heavy smoke, said Prince William Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Joseph Robertson.

The family fled their two-story home and called 911. When rescue crews arrived, the encountered a large fire and worked to extinguish it, said Robertson.

Fire officials are working to determine the cause of the blaze. The fire is estimated to have caused $200,000 in damage.

No one was injured.

With the fall time change Sunday, Robertson reminded county residents to think about their smoke detectors.

"Smoke detectors helped save this family's life, that's why it's important for everyone to make sure, especially now, they have working batteries inside of their smoke detectors," said Robertson.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.