WASHINGTON — Three people are in the hospital and around 35 are displaced following a fire in Fairfax County, officials said.
Officials said the fire happened along Route 29, just inside the Beltway. Firefighters received the call around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
“This whole street was filled with fire trucks and firefighters and emergency responders,” Matt Lakenbach, a neighbor who lives nextdoor, said.
For those who woke up to smoke in their homes, Melissa Jones, one of the residents who was displaced, said it was terrifying.
"All my neighbors were heroes," Jones said. "There were multiple families, knocking on doors and yelling and screaming."
Jones said she saw smoke streaming through the top of the door and a neighbor told her to absolutely not open the door, that's when she said she went to the balcony where a neighbor rescued her and helped her down.
“A gentleman standing downstairs, I don't even know who he was, young boy, said lady come off the balcony and I'll catch you," Jones said. "I threw on my purse and I climbed over and held at my fingertips and he grabbed my legs and got me down."
Jones said it was terrifying, but she's worried about her neighbors that were rescued by fire officials and taken to the local hospital.
“I understand the father is particularly badly hurt. The son’s very bad and the father was saying my wife, my wife and I don't, I don't know what has happened," Jones said.
She said some of the condos in her building had extreme damage.
"Their unit is destroyed, just destroyed," Jones said.
Video from the fire shows flames pouring out of the balcony style porches on the rear side of the building.
Officials didn't provide information on the condition of the victims in the hospital. Officials are working to determine how the fire started.
Red Cross volunteers said Saturday they were assisting 25 people.
This is an ongoing investigation. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.