Gas-Fed Fire Destroys House Overnight

A gas-fed fire destroyed a house in Annandale overnight, a Fairfax County fire department spokesman said.

Firefighters whosearched the building Wednesday found nobody trapped inside, according to authorities. Damage was estimated at $300,000.

Because of the potential of explosion from the fire, which appeared to originate from a gas line in the basement, firefighters had to exit the one-story brick rambler at 5010 Bristow Rd. shortly after they were summoned at 3:30 a.m., said Dan Schmidt, a fire department spokesman.

The house is just inside the Capital Beltway, near the intersection with Braddock Road.

Firefighters continued to battle the blaze from a distance. At the same time, neighbors interviewed by fire investigators gave conflicting information as to whether the home was occupied or vacant, Schmidt said.

Even after a crew from Washington Gas shut down the gas line, the structure was deemed unstable because of the extensive fire damage, and firefighters continued to proceed with great caution, Schmidt said.

Shortly after 6 a.m., crews entered the remains of the building and began extinguishing hot spots and searching the rubble.