Richmond Virginia Firefighters Battle Commercial Blaze

April 9, 2008

Valuable documents and customer information was stored in the Cash for Car Titles loan business building at 6900 Midlothian Trnpk on April 7, when around 0630 hours fire was reported in the structure.

Richmond rose to the challenge and shifted into high gear, arriving on scene in minutes, but the fire had a head start.

First on scene reported heavy fire and smoke venting from the eaves and blowing out of the windows in the front and to one side of the business. Nearby on a major highway motorist were blinded by the smoke that was draping and rolling across the highway.

Exposures were reported as multiple businesses in a nearby complex. Electric wires surrounded the property and a hotel was to the rear of the building. Numerous vehicles were in the parking lot.

Responding were: Quints 20, 22, 23, 24, Rescue 3, Richmond Ambulance Authority Unit 89, Air Light II and Battalion 3, Lt Michael Oprandy as PIO.

Quint 20 was assigned RIT and Quint 22 was assigned truck company duties.

It took an aggressive attack but in 45 minutes firefighters had the raging flames knocked down.

The truck company performed roof ventilation with chainsaws and poles,while firefighters on ground level performed overhaul. One wall had to be knocked down because of hotspots, this was performed by axes and pike poles. The truck company had a charged line on the roof with them to hit flare-ups.

The business was closed at the time of the fire and officials stated the fire had apparently been burning for some time.

The cause is under investigation.

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