Child Playing with Lighter Touches Off Early Morning Fire

By Amber Lester Monday, August 09, 2010

Five people were displaced after a residential fire destroyed two apartments and spread to National Pancake and Waffle House early Monday morning.

A four-year-old child playing with a lighter started the fire that spread quickly through two apartments situated behind the pancake restaurant at 7105 Pocahontas Trail. Due to construction voids in the building, the fire spread into the attic space at the rear of the structure and heavily damaged the roof of the restaurant. The restaurant also suffered smoke and water damage.

The fire was reported by a resident at 12:03 a.m. and 21 fire personnel from the James City County, York County and City of Williamsburg Fire Departments arrived on the scene within minutes. Because the fire spread so fast through the apartments, the crews were forced to fight from the outside, using master streams from an aerial apparatus until it was safe for firefighters to work on the interior of the building.

Virginia Power responded to the scene and secured the power to the entire building, and the James City County Service Authority was called to secure water to the restaurant. Red Cross responded and provided shelter for the five displaced residents; a family of three lived in one apartment and two other family members lived in the other apartment.

No injuries were reported.

James City County District Chief Robert Ryalls said the restaurant could not reopen this morning. Fire crews left the scene around 8 a.m.