Front Row Seat
Downtown Richmond bursts into flames, news at Noon.
I looked out my window today after eating lunch to see huge billowing flames coming from just West of Belvedere street. We had a perfect shot of it from the 18th floor of my office building. Here's a shot of what we could see. Its still going on right now and has spread to at least 4 other fires. With the winds still strong I can only hope it will get under control.
Here is a clipping from Richmond.com I'm sure it will be hard to get there soon:
Fire Hits VCU, Homes
Richmond.com
Friday March 26, 2004
Thick gray and black clouds covered the Fan and academic campus of Virginia Commonwealth University just after noon today as a fire broke out at the corner of West Broad and Shafer streets.
Fires were also reported in buildings two-and-a-half to three blocks away. Smoke and flames could be seen coming from several row houses north of Broad Street as 13-knot winds pushed the flames. Three or four units in the 1100 block of Clay Street had flames coming out of them.
Fire units from Chesterfield and Henrico counties were called to the scene, according to a city spokesperson. Ambulances were on the scene, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
The three-alarm fire began in a building at 933 W. Broad St. that was being constructed for dormitories, according to Lt. Keith Vida of the city's Fire Department. Flames could be seen shooting into the sky from the site that formerly held a Hardee's.
Witnesses reporting hearing two or three explosions before the fire. The building that houses the VCU Arts and Crafts Department, on the north side of Broad, caught on fire around 1:45.
Police blocked at least three blocks of Grace Street early on. Hundreds of spectators watched and took pictures as firefighters worked. Police went door-to-door along Marshall and Clay streets and asked residents to leave their homes.
Sirens could still be heard after 1 p.m. as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. A firetruck was said to be burning on Broad Street.