NORFOLK, Va. – Firefighters with Norfolk Fire-Rescue responded to three fires within the last 24 hours, one of which resulted in a fatality.
The first incident began with a commercial fire at The Desk Doctor in the area of 23rd Street and Llewellyn Avenue around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was called under control at 4:35 p.m.
500 block of Beechwood Avenue (Photo: News 3’s Erin Miller)
Units noticed smoke while en route to the scene and called for a full response. The fire was ruled accidental due to workers dismantling a spray booth and hot metal falling on the floor.
Crews were called back to the scene Thursday morning for a report of smoke coming from the building; they found a few hot spots and quickly extinguished them.
The second fire happened in the 500 block of Beechwood Avenue Thursday morning.
Dispatchers received the call at 9:45 a.m., and upon arrival units found a 92-year-old man on the steps of the house. He was suffering from burn injuries.
Firefighters noticed smoke coming from the house, and once inside they found there had been a significant fire, which was mostly burnt out with some small areas of fire still burning by the time crews arrived.
Crews extinguished the rest of the fire, which was called under control at 10:01 a.m. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, according to Battalion Chief Harry Worley.
Authorities do not believe the fire was suspicious. The cause is still undetermined and is being investigated by the Fire Marshals and the Norfolk Police Department’s Homicide Unit due to the fatality.
The third fire happened in the 3100 block of Lens Avenue at 11:50 a.m. Thursday. It was called under control at 11:52 a.m. and was ruled accidental.
Two adults and one child have been displaced due to damage to the home’s interior. The Red Cross assisted the victims with housing accommodations.
No firefighters were injured in any of these fires, Worley said. Crews took proper precautions and were watched for heat-related illnesses due to the extreme heat at the fires.
The Chesapeake Fire Department was called for their rehab unit in the warehouse fire.
