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Smoke, water damage thrift store
Salvation Army thrift store on Lafayette Boulevard damaged as fire burns shed in the back.
Date published: 7/24/2006
By JENN ROWELL A fire near the back of the Salvation Army thrift store on Lafayette Boulevard last night caused smoke and water damage to parts of the structure. "At least it happened when the store was closed," said Capt. Christine Harris, who works for The Salvation Army and oversees the store's operations. The Fredericksburg Fire Department responded to the scene at about 6:44 p.m. A wooden shed attached to the back of the brick building appeared to be where the fire started, and the smoke traveled throughout the main structure. The Salvation Army leases the space where the store is located and had just recently assumed the lease of the vacant unit next door. The plans are to make that into office space. The vacant unit was formerly a consignment shop. The shed did not contain any Salvation Army property or anything of value, said Gene Philipp, the thrift store's manager. The cause of the fire is undetermined and is still under investigation, according to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Eddie Allen. Firefighters sawed three holes in the roof to allow the smoke to escape and to make sure the fire hadn't expanded into other areas of the building. "What we have to do in a fire like this is make sure it didn't get into another part of the building," said Allen. "So we have to check where the fire originated and if it expanded." All Fredericksburg fire companies responded to the scene, as did a company from Chancellor and two companies from Spotsylvania County. The Falmouth Fire Department filled in to cover the rest of the city. Firefighters spent more than two hours making sure the building was secure. "Before we leave, we'll make sure everything's cooled down and there's no hotspots," Allen said. The shop will likely be closed for several days while the fire department finishes its investigation and The Salvation Army inspects the damage. Harris didn't know last night how the repairs process would go, but it depends on insurance and general funds, she said. Any money the organization receives that has an unspecified designation goes into a general fund that can be used for things like building repair. "We were just talking today that there'd been some trials and challenges, but so far it's been wonderful," Harris said. "And then today we get this call." Harris and Philipp toured the building last night to look at the damage. They used trash bins to catch dripping water and moved merchandise that was getting wet. "I can't get over the smell," Harris said. "I could smell it before I even got here." To reach JENN ROWELL:
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 7/24/2006
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