Three critically injured in early morning fire

Three people were critically injured in an early morning fire that destroyed their Graham Street house Saturday.

Lynchburg Fire Marshal Greg Wormser said a father, mother, their son, and an elderly woman lived in the house near Rivermont Avenue. The names of the victims were not released.

Firefighters rescued the mother and elderly woman from the blaze after the father and son made it out on their own.

The three adults were initially taken to Lynchburg General Hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.

One of the women was flown to the Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond, and Wormser said it was likely the second would also be flown there.

Wormser said the teenage son appeared unharmed, but was taken to Lynchburg General for evaluation.

The worst injuries, Wormser said, were related to heat and smoke inhalation, but he did not know if any of the residents sustained burn injuries.

“The firefighters that were on the scene did a fantastic job in high-heat, high-smoke, high-fire conditions,” Wormser said.

“They were able to get them out within a matter of minutes.”

Lynchburg Fire Battalion Chief Ricky Bomar said fire and rescue workers were called to the house at 2 a.m.

There, they encountered heavy fire and smoke coming from the front and left sides of the home.

Wormser said the father was outside, trying to put the fire out.

Firefighters made an “aggressive entry,” Bomar said, and rescued two of the residents and a dog from the house.

Wormser said the fire started when a space heater ignited some items that were lying close to, or on top of it.

Bomar said one of the 28 firefighters at the scene was injured while fighting the fire, and was treated at Lynchburg General Hospital and released.

Firefighters remained at the scene until about 10 a.m. Saturday to make sure none of the embers flared up.

Wormser said the home was likely a complete loss, though fire damage was contained to the left side of the house.

The rest of the structure sustained heavy smoke and heat damage, along with some water damage.

Wormser said it is important to keep some space in front of the heating sources clear.

“You should have at least three feet of clearance from any heating source, all the way around,” Wormser said, “and you should never leave a heating source unattended for any length of time.”