Bullets exploded and the roof collapsed as a two-alarm blaze ripped through a shooting range at a busy Woodbridge shopping center Sunday afternoon. Police said they had to close U.S. 1 in both directions near Marumsco Plaza for several hours.
The blaze started about 12:30 p.m. at Shooter's Paradise, a gun store and firing range, fire officials said. The store's roof collapsed during the blaze, sending firefighters scurrying for safety. No one was injured.
Fire investigators were trying to determine the cause Sunday night, but they said it appeared the fire erupted in a back area where ammunition was stored. They said exploding bullets probably ignited a rubber backstop in the shooting range.
On its Web site, Shooter's Paradise said it "offers over 2,000 square feet of handguns, rifles, shotguns, holsters, ammunition and other accessories." Store employees tried to salvage some of the guns sold in the store, but said they probably lost thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.
The blaze destroyed several stores in the shopping center and left many others damaged, fire officials said. Merchants in the shopping center said they don't know when, or if, they will be able to reopen.
