Two fires in downtown
Published 10:25 pm Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Firefighters in downtown Suffolk battled two blazes on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Ten people, including seven children, were displaced Tuesday night in a fire that damaged a two-story residence in the 100 block of Halifax Street.
The fire was reported at 8:19 p.m., and the first units arrived on scene at 8:23 p.m., according to a city press release.
All of the occupants had evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters, who found heavy smoke at the residence. Firefighters were able to confine the fire to the second floor.
The fire was called under control at 8:43 p.m., and there were no injuries, the press release stated. Seven children and three adults were displaced and will be assisted by the American Red Cross.
The Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the cause of the fire accidental.
Then early Wednesday morning, a house used for storage for a church’s food bank was damaged in a fire.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue crews responded to the fire in the 600 block of Mulberry Street, according to a city press release. The fire was reported at 5:51 a.m., and the first units arrived on scene three minutes later.
Crews found heavy fire showing from the exterior utility room of the one-story residence, with fire extending to the attic. The house is used for storage by the East End Baptist Church food bank, the city press release stated; however, the area where food donations are stored was not affected.
There were no injuries, and the fire was called under control at 6:23 a.m. The Fire Marshal’s Office said the cause of the fire was undetermined but not suspicious.