Update on convenience store fire here

Photos by Martinsville Police Department and the Public Information Office

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The Martinsville Fire & EMS Department responded to a fire at the IDL Market convenience store located at 1012 Liberty Street in Martinsville earlier this evening.

The call came in to the 911 Communications Center at 8:27 p.m. When firefighters responded to the scene the fire was fully engulfed. The firefighters used a defensive strategy to surround and extinguish the fire as quickly as possible without having to send a firefighter inside the building. “Everyone was able to escape from the fire without injury. “With the fire being so intense, we felt it was far too dangerous to send anyone in. So we went with a defensive, surround and drown, strategy to fight the fire,” said Martinsville Fire Chief Kenneth Draper.
The store was open at the time of the fire. Employees saw smoke coming from the ceiling of the building and called for help. The fire completely engulfed the building causing heavy damage to the entire structure, including the collapse of the roof. The blaze briefly spread to a wooded area on a hillside behind the store. Firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the related brush fire without further damage to any other properties. There were no injuries related to the fire. The fire was determined to be under control by 9:19 p.m.
The Martinsville Fire Marshal’s Office has started its investigation of the blaze. The exact origin and cause of the fire has not been determined at this time. Further updates will be released as soon as more information is available.