NINE ADULTS DISPLACED IN SUSPICIOUS APARTMENT BUILDING FIRE

NINE ADULTS DISPLACED IN RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT BUILDING STRUCTURE FIRE

SUFFOLK, Virginia (September 19, 2021): Suffolk Fire & Rescue units responded early Sunday
morning, September 19, 2021, to a residential apartment building that was on fire in 300 block of
Wellons Street, in Downtown Suffolk.

Emergency Communications was contacted at 03:00 a.m. and the first unit arrived on scene at
03:04 a.m.

Battalion 1, Engine 1, Engine 2, Rescue 1 arrived to find heavy black smoke showing from the
front door and flames visible from the rear of the large structure. An aggressive interior attack
found heavy fire on the first floor of the two-story residential apartment building with fire venting
from the rear. Residents had to be evacuated on the second floor of the building by fire crews.

Nine adult occupants have been displaced and are currently being assisted by the American
Red Cross. There were no injuries. The fire was called under control at 03:38 a.m. The fire has
been ruled suspicious and is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Suffolk Police
Department.

Responding units included Battalion 1; Engines 1, 2, 3, 4; Ladders 3 and 5; Medic 1, Rescue 1
and 6, EMS-1, Safety 1, Fire Marshal 4 and 6.

-Submitted by Michael J. Barakey, Fire Chief