On February 2, 2006, Hanover County Virginia Fire and EMS department responded for a working apartment fire at 10:23 am.
Fire crews arrived and encountered heavy fire conditions on the 3rd floor, attic and roof area. It took Hanover County Virginia Fire and EMS personnel one and half hours to bring this intense blaze at Covenant Woods Continuous Care Retirement Community under control.
The fire destroyed 3 wings, 50 apartment units which included 100,000 square feet of buildings.
The building was under construction and due for completion in March 2006.
The existing resident facility was connected and 75-100 residents were evacuated. A second alarm was immediately called and the incident went to three alarms.
The blaze was knocked down and brought under control using an aggressive interior attack on the 3rd floor and attic area where new construction and existing construction connected.
When the progression of the fire was stopped the remainder of the fire was knocked down utilizing aerial master streams and exterior handline master steams.
Eighteen fire units with 83 career, volunteer, and administration personnel were on scene from Hanover County Virginia Fire/EMS.
The estimated damage is listed at $14-15 million dollars.
The building was outfitted with a fire sprinkler system and was not in service at the time of the fire due to construction.
The Hanover County Virginia Fire Marshals Office is currently conducting the cause and origin investigation and no cause has been determined at this time.
There were no reported injuries to residents, construction workers, or fire and EMS personnel.
The existing resident facility was opened up to residents late Thursday and no one was displaced.
