A Waldorf family has been displaced due to a fire during the blizzard which left one firefighter injured and three family cats missing.
The fire broke out on Saturday, Feb. 6 around 6:20 a.m. in the 4800 block of Quade Circle. Over 40 firefighters from Waldorf, Hughesville, Westlake, Brandywine and La Plata responded to the blaze in the single family home.
Investigation revealed the occupant was sleeping inside the home when she woke up to the sound of a smoke alarm. She investigated the sound and found a small fire coming up from behind the couch in the living room. After she attempted to extinguish the fire, she exited the house and retreated outside into the storm. The fire apparatus was forced to battle the weather elements before they could reach the scene, by which time the house was fully involved with fire.
Investigators believe the fire was a result of an electrical fire caused by a probable overloaded circuit.
The house was completely destroyed and the American Red Cross is assisting.