On Sunday, November 20, 2005 the Chesapeake (Virginia) Fire Department received an alarm of a large volume of black smoke in the area of the Elizabeth River Terminal complex.
Responding units reported a heavy column of black smoke upon exiting their stations.
Outlying responding units and concerned citizens reported the fire from as far away as 15 miles.
The alarm was immediately upgraded to a two alarm waterfront fire and the CFD Fireboat, Marine 1 responded.
On arrival, crews were met with a 400 by 200 steel frame warehouse covered in fiberglass with heavy fire involving the roof. The fire consumed the roof and two walls, and also ignited wooden pallets and packing materials inside the structure.
A total of 3 master streams were deployed and the fire was quickly brought under control.
The fire was accidental. A front end loader had damaged an electrical conduit in the building and the resulting arc ignited the fiberglass covering. No damage estimate is available.
