[Photo: Prince William fire and rescue]At 1 a.m. today, units were dispatched to the 9000 block of Mineola Court for a reported house fire.

Crews arrived on the scene and discovered fire showing to the rear of the home, spreading up into the attic. No injuries were reported.

The home sustained extensive damage and was posted unsafe to occupy by the Building Official. The Red Cross assisted the two adults and three children displaced.

The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the cause was the improper disposal of wood chips from a smoker device.

The county Fire Marshal’s Office says ashes can remain hot enough to burn for up to 48-72 hours. All ashes should be properly disposed of in a metal container and kept outside your home.

An alternative would be to spread the ashes out on the ground away from any structure, it adds.

Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham will join Supervisor Margaret Franklin tonight for a town hall meeting on gun violence.

The region is under a flood watch beginning at 3 p.m.

Yesli Vega is the winner of a Republican Primary Election in Virginia’s 7th District, defeating five other candidates to be the party’s nominee to face incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the November General Election.

The Fredericksburg Nationals won an extra-inning thriller for the second time in as many games Tuesday at Carillion Clinic Field.