VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – One person has been displaced after a house fire on Kirkwood Lane Thursday night.
According to officials, just after 7:10 p.m., crews were dispatched to the 500 block of Kirkwood Lane for reports of a residential structure fire. This is nearby Thalia Drive.
Crews arrived to the scene and found a single-story house and garage fully engulfed in flames. The fire was marked under control just before 8 p.m.
One person was displaced, and one cat died as a result of the fire. No injuries were reported.
Fire crews were able to determine that the fire originated in the garage and was caused by a space heater, which ignited combustibles in the area. Virginia Beach firefighters are urging people to remember several fire safety tips when it comes to space heaters in the winter months:
- Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory
- Keep the heater at least three feet from anything that can burn, including people
- Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection
- Place the heater on a solid, flat surface
- Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over
- Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit
- Keep children away from the space heater
- Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
- Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.