PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A column of smoke was billowing over Portsmouth earlier Monday morning due to a large commercial building fire.
The flames and smoke could be seen all the way from downtown Norfolk.
Firefighters were dispatched to 1000 Queen Street around 3:20 a.m. when a citizen reported the fire to emergency services.
Crews were able to quickly extinguish the very large fire with "elevated master streams," the Portsmouth Fire Department said. It was marked under control just after 4:30 a.m.
One firefighter was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Crews watched this scene, poured water, and hosed down areas to put out hot spots to ensure no reignition occurred throughout the morning.
A pile of debris is left in the path of the fire leaving a building and car destroyed.
“It’s a mess,” said Peter Youngblood, a property owner in the area.
Youngblood said he heard about the fire through a friend on Monday morning. He had concerns, considering a building he owns sits at that same intersection.
“I rode over just to make sure that it wasn’t adjacent to my property," he said. "Turns out it was.”
Luckily, his building isn’t damaged but firefighters checked his roof to be sure.
However, Youngblood isn’t upset to see part of the building go.
“The building has been deserted for at least five years and has been an attractive nuisance all that time," he said. "I know the owner has done everything he can to keep people from breaking in.”
The owner of the property didn't want to talk on camera but said it was an auto repair shop before it became vacant about five years ago. He said he's owned the building for decades and had plans to sell the property to the city. Considering this morning's fire, he said he's unsure if the deal will continue.
The fire is under investigation.