GLOUCESTER, Va. — A cigarette butt disposed of in an exterior trash can appears to be the cause of a house fire in Gloucester County on Sunday morning.
One person was displaced in the fire, but no injuries were reported, the Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue said in a Facebook post.
The fire on Stokes Drive was reported at 9:39 a.m., and volunteer units began arriving two minutes later. A medic reported smoke coming from the eaves, while a first line officer arrived after the medic and established command while reporting there was smoke coming from two sides of the house.
Engine 31 arrived at 9:43 a.m. and began knocking down an exterior fire on the rear of the house. Firefighters then entered the home and found heavy fire in the attic, knocking most of it down within 10 minutes of arrival.
The cigarette butt in the exterior trash can apparently caught fire, burned up the side of the house and entered the attic through the eaves, the volunteer fire department said.
Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad was also on scene, with 30 firefighters responding between the two departments.