One dead after Waynesboro fire; Investigation continues

First responders were called out to the 300 block of Arch Avenue for reports of visible smoke that resulted in a structure fire. According to Waynesboro Fire Department, an older structure was turned into two separate apartments. The incident started in the upper apartment kitchen with very little damage to the lower level. The investigation has been going on all afternoon. “We’re really early in the investigation. We’re working with Waynesboro Police Departments investigators as well. We can confirm that there was one fatality in the fire. We’ll be here for several more hours, working to try to determine what the cause was.” Deputy Chief Fitzgerald said.
WHSV-TV ABC 3 Harrisonburg

No injuries reported after structure fire at Danville elementary school

There were no reported injuries after a structure fire broke out at Woodberry Hills Elementary School in Danville Saturday morning, according to the Danville Fire Department. Officials said the Danville Fire Department responded to 614 Audubon Drive at 11:47 a.m. for a reported structure fire. The department said when firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke located on the rear corner with fire extension into the building. After an interior attack and quick knockdown of the fire, crews searched inside the school to verify there were no occupants, officials said. The Danville Fire Marshal’s Office and Danville Police Department Crime Scene are conducting an investigation to determine to cause of the fire. DFD said no injuries were reported to personnel.
WSLS-TV NBC 10 Roanoke

Fire damages Richmond apartment

A woman has been displaced after a fire damaged an apartment in the Creighton Court area of Richmond. According to the Richmond Fire Department, the fire took place on the 2100 block of Creighton Road on the morning of Sunday, March 26. A woman who lived in the apartment came home, smelled smoke and called 911. The fire was confined to the apartment but caused damage to the interior. The woman was the only occupant of the apartment.
WRIC-TV ABC 8 Petersburg

’Guns N Hoses’ charity hockey match in Norfolk will benefit children of military members and first responders

The first weekend in April will mark the 13th annual "Guns N Hoses" charity hockey match. Firefighters and police officers from across Hampton Roads will face off on the ice at Norfolk's Scope Arena. Vincent Decrisci is a police officer, hockey player, and member of Guns N Hoses Committee. He said he and his committee members spent a lot of time organizing this year's event and he's looking forward to gameday. “Last year we did lose in overtime 3 to 2 so I’m pretty ticked off about that! No one likes to lose to firefighters," Vincent Decrisci joked. Decrisci noted the friendly match is also a fundraiser. He said the event is a chance to engage the community and give back to nonprofits. This year, a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Hero Kids Foundation. John Raniowski is the Foundation's founder.
WVEC-TV ABC 13 Hampton

Car engulfed by flames after crash in Chesterfield County

A driver struck a pole on Old Stage Road in Chesterfield County, knocking down wires and igniting a fire that crews had to work to keep away from nearby homes. A Chesterfield County Fire Department spokesperson told 8News in an email that the driver was not hurt, but that the vehicle was fully engulfed in fire and power lines were “arcing.” “Holding ground cover fire away from residences until Dominion Power arrives,” Captain J.A. Harvey wrote in the email at 3:50 p.m. There are 105 Dominion Energy customers without power in the area. According to Dominion’s outage website, the estimated time of restoration is between 9 p.m. to midnight. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the fire had closed all northbound and southbound lanes of Old Stage Road near Old Bermuda Hundred Road. The road has since reopened, according to VDOT.
WRIC-TV ABC 8 Petersburg

Galax firefighters battle two brush fires

PHOTO: The Galax Fire Department says it responded to two separate brush fires of approximately 20 acres in the Delhart Road area on March 25th. Just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, crews were dispatched to the intersection of Highway 58 and Delhart Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found two brush fires with one quickly moving toward structures. Firefighters began emergency efforts and contained the first blaze to one acre while additional crews were called to the scene for the second fire on Poplar Knob Road. Multiple fire department agencies including the Virginia Department of Forestry responded to the scene to assist and the Poplar Knob Road fire was successfully contained before reaching the structure. The Galax Fire Department says the fires were estimated to be at 20 acres and believe that they were started by issues with the power distribution system.
WFXR-TV FOX 27 Roanoke

16 apartments damaged after 2-alarm fire at apartments in Virginia Beach

Sixteen apartments have been damaged following a 2-alarm fire on Thursday in Virginia Beach. No injuries were reported. According to a tweet from the Virginia Beach Fire Department, the fire occurred in the 5300 block of Yellow Knife Court at the Indian Lakes Apartments. Officials say when crews arrived on the scene they found heavy smoke and flames coming from a second-story attic and spreading quickly to other units. The fire was marked under control at 7:44 p.m. According to officials, 16 apartments have been affected by the fire. It is unknown at this time how many people have been displaced. There were no injuries reported and Red Cross is working with tenants to secure housing. Crews closed Indian River Road between Indian Lakes Boulevard and Ferrell Parkway during the active fire scene.
WAVY-TV NBC 10 Portsmouth

8 injured after crash involving Fairfax County fire truck

Eight people were taken to the hospital after a crash Thursday involving a Fairfax County, Virginia, fire truck and three other cars. The crash happened around 5:19 p.m. on Richmond Highway at Memorial Street in Groveton, Fairfax County Police said in a tweet. Police initially reported that one person was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries but has since improved and is expected to survive. The remaining seven people injured in the crash have non-life-threatening injuries as well, a Fairfax County police spokesperson told WTOP. Memorial Street was closed for a few hours due to the crash, but has since reopened.
WTOP-FM 103.5 Washington

She started a wish list to help Petersburg firefighters; Now, the rest of the community has stepped in

VIDEO: There's constantly training for members of the Petersburg Fire Department. "I don't think a lot of people truly realize how many hours a day, most of the time it's 24, that our firefighters spend at the fire station," Kathleen McCay, the owner of Petersburg's Old Townes Alibi, said. To support the three shifts of firefighters at the city's four fire stations, McCay created an Amazon wish list with the idea of going beyond the basics that the city provides. The idea caught on within the community. "To launch our wish list Tuesday morning and have already 170 some items secured and on their way, that just says the community wants to say thank you," McCay said. The wish list has both small and big items. "So, aluminum pans, aluminum foil, snacks, hydration packets, beverages, hot sauce, condiments, sides for when they cook family style," McCay said.
WTVR-TV CBS 6 Richmond

Man in hospital after catching fire outside Bluefield Walmart

A man is in hospital care after catching fire outside the Walmart in Bluefield, Virginia. The Bluefield, Virginia fire department reports the man was refueling a power-washer with gasoline. The power-washer then caught fire and spread to the man’s face. He was then airlifted to a hospital, and there is no word yet on which hospital or the man’s condition.
WVVA-TV NBC/CW 6 Bluefield

Charges pending following brush fire in Orange County

Authorities say charges are pending after a fire burned around seven acres in Orange County Wednesday, March 22. Homes were evacuated and the railroad was shut down has crews from several departments battled the fire for more than seven hours. “On a normal basis, it’s usually a two-company response. This ended up being county-wide, and we also called in mutual aid assistance from Louisa, Culpeper, and Madison counties,” Fire Chief Whitt Jacobs said Thursday, March 23. “What made this fire more unique was the fire loads that we were dealing with and the fact that it was so close to residential neighborhood. That was kind of what made it more of a dynamic scene than what we’re normally used to.” All of the damage is believed to have been started by a small, control burn.
WVIR-TV NBC/CW+ 29 Charlottesville

Major fire destroys house in Wintergreen

PHOTO: The Wintergreen Fire & Rescue took to Facebook on Wednesday to fill in the community about what they said was a major house fire that destroyed a home. WFR said on Tuesday around 7:45 p.m. they received a call about a home in Stoney Creek. The house was reported as fully engulfed in a fire, and when crews arrived they found that it really was fully engulfed and was not repairable. The fire and rescue team said the owners of the home were gone traveling and they have not been able to make contact with them yet. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.
WSET-TV ABC 13 Lynchburg