Volunteer Fire Department Responds to Second Major Structure Fire in Just Three Days

Old Stanley Road - September 16, 2024Photo byTerry A. Pettit / SVFD

STANLEY, Va. – On Monday, the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) battled their second structure fire in three days.

According to an emailed media release from SVFD Chief Terry A. Pettit, the incident occurred September 16, 2024.

At approximately 3:02 a.m., the SVFD responded to 1843 Old Stanley Road, about four miles West of Stanley.  Flames were already coming out of the back of the two-story wood frame house when firefighters arrived.  

A preliminary investigation showed that the blaze started in the bedroom, near a space heater that may have been too close to furniture. 

The house’s owner, Roger Broyles, and two tenants Tony and Marion Stillwell, were all able to safely escape.

Damages were estimated to be approximately $100,000. The house was not insured and is considered a total loss.  

Old Stanley Road - September 16, 2024Photo byTerry A. Pettit / SVFD

According to the media release, six units and 20 firefighters from the SVFD responded to the call. It took nearly an hour to bring the fire under control. Crews remained on-scene for three hours to make sure the fire was completely extinguished.

During the incident, the Luray Fire Department was called to assist with covering calls at the Stanley station and provided a tanker for water supply. 

The Shenandoah Fire Department also responded with a tanker along with the Page County EMS.  No injuries were reported.  

The Page County Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control and the Red Cross is assisting the home’s residents with temporary living arrangements.

Chief Pettit indicated that this fire and Friday's Judy Lane fire were real tests for the new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units the department recently purchased at a cost of $170,000.

The all-volunteer department was able to pay for the units through local donations and fundraisers, and the recent training with the SCBA’s was valuable in ensuring firefighter safety.