Cause Determined in Virginia Fire
April 1, 2010 — Virginia fire officials have determined that a very intense fast moving late night fire on April 1, which destroyed four structures in the Ridgewood area of Virginia, was accidental. The fire was reported shortly after 10:00 p.m. in the 1100 block of 19th Street South. Arriving Virginia firefighters faced several challenges including downed power lines in the alley with the blaze being fed by a natural gas line. Two garages and a shed were quickly consumed by the fire which then extended into a
single story house owned by Lyle Conaway. "It was like one big blow torch," said Fire Wire photographer Mike Zadra. "One of biggest fires that I have ever seen in Virginia." Several other nearby structures had external damage from the intense heat. The Mountain Iron Fire Department was also dispatched to the scene. No injuries were reported and firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night. An investigation revealed that the fire was caused by sparks from a metal grinder which ignited a nearby wood pile. The owner of the property told fire department officials that he had been using the grinder earlier in the day. Damages were estimated around $275,000.
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