(Fredericksburg, VA) December 6, 2024 – At approximately 12:43 p.m. yesterday, the Fredericksburg Emergency Communications Center (ECC) started receiving calls to report a fire in Play It Again Sports, located at 1281 Emancipation Highway. This business is located in a strip shopping center known as Eagle Village Shopping Center (formerly the Park & Shop Center).
Within 5 minutes, fire units from the Fredericksburg Fire Department arrived and saw heavy black smoke coming from the front of the business as well as the roof of the store. Smoke was also starting to emerge from the business next door to the left, A Stitch in Time. Hose lines were stretched, and a fire attack with multiple hose lines began in both stores. Firefighters accessed the roof from a ladder truck positioned in the rear of the shopping center, where there was a fire in the roof space coming from the attic area. Multiple hose lines were also stretched into the rear of each business to try and access the fire from that direction. Other businesses in the row (U.S. Post Office, Laundromat, and Perfect 10 Nails Salon) had smoke and heat, but no fire was found when those businesses were checked. Natural gas and electric services have been disconnected to affected businesses to prevent additional problems.
It took firefighters about 35 minutes to bring the blaze under control and then several hours of checking for further fire extension and overhauling the fire areas. The fire went into the roof space and caused problems with the styrofoam insulation and rubber membrane covering. This produced copious amounts of black smoke and made accessing the area difficult. Many firefighters cut the roof membrane over the five stores to ensure the fire was extinguished. The cold, brisk wind factored into the spread of the roof fire, but firefighters were able to control the fire despite the conditions.
At the height of the fire, about 50 firefighters were on the scene from the Fredericksburg Fire Department as well as from Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management, Stafford County Fire-Rescue, King George Emergency Services as well as an ambulance from the Naval District of Washington that had been at Mary Washington Hospital. A few civilians were evaluated for smoke inhalation, but all were minor, and no one was transported to the hospital. No firefighter injuries occurred.
The Fredericksburg Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) was on the scene with three investigators. They have been actively working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Their work is ongoing, and they will not have a report for several more days. No damage estimate is available at this time.
Additional questions should be directed to Fire Chief Michael Jones. FredericksburgVA.gov/Fire and 540-372-1059.