Wildfires burn around Prince William County, close I-95

UPDATE, 10:20 p.m.: All fires are now out or under control. Residents in Occoquan Forest will have power restored by tomorrow. The blaze there burned one unoccupied home to the ground. Another sustained minor damage. In all, 25 to 30 acres burned there.

Besides sparking wildfires around the county, Saturday's winds also knocked off one side of the iconic Potomac Mills sign above Potomac Mills mall. No one was reported injured.

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UPDATE, 8:15 p.m.: All fires under control, no injuries, Occoquan Forest residents are still without power, but no one has reported to the shelter at Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department, so it is closing. Power crews are assessing damage there. No word on when power will be restored.

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UPDATE, 7:20 p.m.: 

 A 29-year-old man has been charged with leaving a trash fire smoldering in a Dale City homeless camp, sparking a 25-acre brush fire that closed Interstate 95 on Saturday.

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UPDATE, 6:40 p.m.: From Prince William Communications Direct Jason Grant:

• 3-alarm fire in Occoquan Forest in Buckhall area still burning. Currently one home has been confirmed to be destroyed and another damaged. Numerous outbuildings have been confirmed to be destroyed. Boiled water advisory remains in effect due to loss of water pressure caused from use of water to combat fires in the area. Power and phone service has been lost to some residences due to damaged lines. 60 residents in that area have been evacuated. Lake Jackson fire station is serving as a shelter for residents in need.  
• 25-acre brush fire behind the K-Mart near the I-95 Dale City exit are currently contained
• 35-acre brush fire near I-95 North and Cardinal Drive is currently contained
• 10-acre brush fire near Northern Virginia Community College off Neabsco Mills Road – no updates
• Brush fire on Dumfries Road at Sinclair Mill Road – no updates
• 25-acre brush fire at Prince William Pkwy and Smoketown Road reports of propane tanks igniting

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UPDATE: 6 p.m.: Due to loss of water pressure with the water system in the Occoquan Forest area, the Prince William Service Authority has issued a “Boil Water Advisory” for all residents in the Occoquan Forest area. Residents should bring water to a rolling boil and cool before drinking until further notice is given.

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UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.: From Prince William police - "There is now a report of a brush fire near Northern Virginia Community College on Neabsco Mills Rd.  I-95 is open except for fire access roads."

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UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.: From Prince William police:

Prince William is working three significant fires as of 1600.

One fire in the Buckhall area of the County on Lake Forest Drive has destroyed at least one house and damaged another and numerous outbuildings and covers 200 acres.  Residences have been evacuated along the west side of Occoquan Forest Drive from Davis Ford Road to Lake Forest Drive.  Residents can go to the Buckhall Fire Station.

A brush fire at the Dale City exit of SB I-95 has consumed over 5 acres and one on the northbound side at Cardinal Drive has consumed over 10 acres.  Smoke is obscuring I-95 and NB I-95 has been shut down with the exception of HOV.  The access ramps for the Dale City exit have been shut down.

A total of 96 units are on various calls in the County and off duty personnel have been recalled.

Any outdoor flame should be avoided in this dry, windy condition.  This includes grilling and cigarettes and cigars.

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UPDATE, 4:11 p.m.: I-95 south has reopened.

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UPDATE, 4:05 p.m.: Davis Ford Road is closed. Some residents near fire in Occoquan Forest are being evacuated, per Prince William police. There are dozens of wildfires throughout Prince William County, power outages in Manassas, traffic crawling on major roads.

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UPDATE, 3:40 p.m.: I-95 is closed southbound at the 156 milemarker and northbound at the 152 milemarker.

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Firefighters are battling several wildfires around Prince William County. One has engulfed a home on Lake Forest Drive off Davis Ford Road, and spread to at least one other house.

The first house involved appears destroyed. The flames have spread to a second house and possibly a third.

In Dale City, a large brush fire behind the Kmart on Dale Boulevard swept toward Interstate 95, prompting officials to close the southbound lanes of the highway.

Smoke from the fire could been seen for miles and the smell was reportedly seeping into buildings around the area.

High winds and dry conditions have sparked dozens of fires across Prince William County this afternoon and emergency resources are depleted. Prince William fire officials were calling for volunteer crews from surrounding counties to help.

Some of the fires started near homeless camps, such as the Dale City blaze, and tossed cigarettes have been the source of others, fire officials said. Prince William police officers were out at homeless camps today notifying residents of fire danger.

A burn ban remains in effect in the county and a high wind warning remains until 9 p.m.

Stay with insidenova.com and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidenova for the latest on the weather conditions.