By Heather Michon
Correspondent
Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue (LMVF&R) responded to a structure fire in the 1000 block of Lake Monticello Road (Rt. 618) shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 10).
LMVF&R Chief Richard Constantino said a resident on Jefferson Drive first saw flames on the roof of the home across Lake Monticello Road and attempted to see if anyone was inside. Receiving no response, the neighbor called 911 at 9:06 p.m. The first units were on the scene by 9:12 p.m.
Seeing two vehicles parked outside “meant there’s a good bet someone’s inside,” said Constantino.
Crews immediately breached the front door and found a male victim on the floor of the kitchen.
Constantino alerted UVA Health’s Pegasus for a potential airlift. However, despite an hour of resuscitation attempts by emergency personnel, the victim could not be revived.
Engines from Palmyra, Fork Union, and Kent’s Store assisted LMVF&R in extinguishing the fire, which took about 30 minutes to bring under control. The Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office closed Lake Monticello Road from Tuscarora Drive to the traffic circle at Rt. 53 while crews were at work.
Along with the resident, one dog was also killed in the blaze. Another dog was rescued unharmed.
Authorities have not yet identified the victim.
A resident posted on Facebook on Sunday it was her husband and dog that had died. She thanked the community for their concerns and well wishes but requested time and privacy to recover.
Because the fire claimed a life, the investigation will be conducted jointly between LMVF&R and the sheriff’s office.
Constantino said the full investigation would take some time to complete, but his preliminary view was that there was “no criminal intent.”
This is the first fire-related fatality in the area since April 2018.
