Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.Pa-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

News Release 09-08
Date: January 21, 2009

Four-Alarm Falls Church Store Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a commercial fire at approximately 10:40 p.m., Monday, January 19, 2009, in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County. The store, e Mart International Grocery, is located in the Yorktown Shopping Center, 8100 Arlington Boulevard.

Firefighters encountered fire and smoke showing through the roof of the one-story grocery store. A partial collapse of the roof occurred near the rear of the store where refrigeration units were located. The store received extensive fire, water, and smoke damage throughout. Several adjacent stores also sustained smoke and water damage. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 90 minutes. The Incident Commander struck a fourth alarm, bringing over 120 firefighters to the scene. There were no injuries. 

Damage is estimated at $4.5 million.

The fire is under investigation.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.