Late Monday night, Suffolk Fire & Rescue teams rushed to a blazing fire at a commercial building located on the 700 Block of N. Main Street, which has since led to a partial structural collapse. The fire, which began around 10:05 p.m., quickly escalated, causing visible flames to emerge from the roof and resulting in an emergency evacuation of the premises.
Despite the intense and dangerous conditions, there have been no injuries reported among civilians or firefighting personnel. The fire was brought under control by 3:40 a.m., but crews remained at the scene to address remaining hot spots and assess the building’s compromised structural integrity.
Authorities have closed parts of N. Main Street from the 1200 block to E. Constance Road to facilitate emergency operations and ensure public safety. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has confirmed that runoff water from the fire does not contain hazardous materials, although the Department of Environmental Quality and Portsmouth’s Hazardous Material Team have been involved in managing the aftermath.
As the community waits for the reopening of the roads and further updates, the focus remains on investigating the cause of the fire and ensuring the stability of the affected building.
