Richmond Crews Battle 3-Alarm Downtown Fire for Nine Hours
A multi-alarm fire tore through a historic five-story building on West Broad Street in Richmond on Friday night, shutting down a portion of the downtown corridor and drawing a massive, nine-hour response from regional fire crews, wtvr.com reported. The blaze, which began just after 9 p.m. in the 100 block of West Broad Street near North Adams Street, ultimately escalated from a two-alarm incident to a three-alarm emergency.
The structure at the center of the incident was originally constructed in 1887 as a Masonic Temple. Today, the mixed-use building houses the Renaissance venue on its ground floor—frequently used for weddings and other ceremonies—alongside commercial spaces and residential apartments overhead. Richmond Fire Deputy Chief Rodney Epps noted that the building’s advanced age and numerous modifications over the decades created hidden spaces that firefighters could not initially reach, allowing the flames to spread quickly.
Crews Trace Smoke to Basement Origin as Flames Breach Upper Floors
When initial crews arrived at the scene, they suspected they were dealing with a small outside fire. They soon traced the smoke to the first-floor basement area, which serves as the primary point of origin alongside the ground-floor commercial space, according to wtvr.com and 12 On Your Side.
Within twenty minutes of the initial response, flames had breached the second floor. Smoke was reported across the first and second levels as crews fought to contain the concealed pockets of fire. The department called a second alarm roughly 40 minutes into the incident, eventually escalating to a third alarm to bring in fresh personnel and additional resources. Firefighters rotated through the scene over the course of nearly nine hours.
Occupants Evacuate Safely as Firefighters Rescue Building Pets
Despite the severe structural challenges and the extended duration of the fire, authorities confirmed that all occupants successfully evacuated. Commercial establishments downstairs were closed at the time of the fire, and residents from the upper-floor apartments were safely removed.
“No firefighters hurt, no civilians hurt, and even the dogs came out great today,” Deputy Chief Rodney Epps told wtvr.com.
Crews prioritized the safety of building occupants‘ pets during the evacuation efforts. Firefighters assisted in removing all animals from the premises, with one firefighter caring for a dog until animal control arrived, and another crew securing a pet in a room until its owner could return. Displaced residents received immediate assistance from the Red Cross.
The response effort relied heavily on mutual aid from neighboring departments. Fire crews from Henrico and Chesterfield counties joined Richmond firefighters to combat the blaze while local resources were fully committed to the downtown scene.
Investigation Into the Cause Remains Open
By Saturday morning, the active flames had been extinguished, with crews transitioning to checking the structure for any remaining hidden extensions. No visible fire remained, though the incident had not been officially declared under control in the initial hours.
Investigators initiated their work at the scene as daylight broke, but the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
