Chief Ronald A. Williamson announced that the Front Royal Police Department responded this morning to a house fire. The fire was reported at approximately 4:34 a.m.. Upon the arrival of officers at the scene, they found a two-store house, located at 1352 John Marshall Highway, engulfed in flames. Fire units then arrived on the scene and began efforts to extinguish the fire.
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It was determined that there were a total of eight occupants in the house at the time of the fire. Two of the occupants, Melissa Cook, 40 years of age, and Steven Cook, 32 years of age, were flown by helicopter to the Washington Hospital Center. Both individuals are listed in stable condition at this time. Two other occupants, Brandi Hartman, 20 years of age, and Justin Cook, age unknown, were treated and released from Warren Memorial Hospital after receiving smoke inhalation and minor abrasions. Two additional occupants, Jacqueline Morton, 40 years of age, and Lillie Jenkins, 11 years of age, escaped without injury. The remaining occupants, Madison Cook, 8 years of age, and Stevie Cook, 4 years of age, are unaccounted for at this time. One body has been recovered from the scene but has not been identified. Investigators are continuing the search for the other occupant. .
Fire units from Front Royal, Linden, Rivermont, North Warren, and Strasburg responded to the scene.
The Front Royal Police Department is currently investigating the cause of the fire and is being assisted by the Warren County Fire and Rescue Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Loudoun County Fire Marshall’s Office.
