Multiple agencies gathered at Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg for a semiannual exercise on Friday, March 7, but the doors were closed to keep plans from reaching the wrong eyes.

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Fredericksburg is set to enhance public safety by acquiring a vehicle barrier system to protect attendees at outdoor events from potential vehicle-borne attacks. The measure will be voted on at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, following the acceptance of a $250,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) through the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP).

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On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Fredericksburg Fire Department responded to a fire at 227 Germania Street in the Mill District. Firefighters arrived within minutes to find smoke coming from the basement of a one-story building housing a barber shop and beauty salon on the first floor and apartments in the basement.

Crews extinguished a kitchen fire within five minutes, searched the building, and found no occupants. Three cats were located unharmed. Two residents were displaced as Dominion Energy disconnected the power for safety. No injuries were reported. Due to icy conditions, City Public Works sent a sand truck to treat the street after the fire.

Earlier that day, the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Water Rescue Team conducted ice rescue training at Twin Lakes Community, utilizing recent sustained low temperatures that allowed waterways to freeze. “We are rarely able to conduct this training, as the temperatures have to be low for a sustained amount of time for the waterways to freeze enough,” the department shared on Facebook.

Officials warned residents that the ice remains dangerously thin and advised against venturing onto frozen waterways, citing warming temperatures expected to reach the upper 30s to low 50s by midweek. The National Weather Service predicts milder conditions in the coming days, contrasting with the frigid temperatures earlier this week when highs struggled to reach the mid-20s. The Fire Department emphasized safety during ice rescues, noting that personnel use specialized equipment to stay warm and buoyant during training exercises. Residents are urged to stay off the ice and encourage others to do the same.

Fire investigators are still searching for answers in two recent fires that caused significant damage in Fredericksburg and Woodbridge.

In Fredericksburg, the December 5 blaze at Eagle Village Shopping Center began in the warehouse of Play It Again Sports and quickly spread, destroying multiple businesses. Despite extensive efforts, investigators have been unable to determine the fire’s cause.

Updated: The Fire Marshal will continue to speak to witnesses should anyone have further information. Camera footage taken shortly after the fire was discovered has been reviewed, but no security cameras were available to assist the investigation. Officials also stated that there is no evidence of unauthorized entry into the building prior to the fire’s discovery, according to a city spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, a January 21 townhouse fire in Woodbridge displaced two residents after unattended cooking sparked flames. Working smoke detectors alerted the occupants, allowing them to escape safely. Both incidents highlight the importance of fire safety and preparedness as investigations into the causes continue.

Meanwhile, in Woodbridge

In the early hours of January 21, 2025, a townhouse fire displaced two residents in the 2800 block of Gloucester Court. Firefighters arrived just after 2:44 a.m. to find smoke showing from the residence.

The fire began when one of the occupants, who had been cooking in the kitchen, fell asleep. Fortunately, functioning smoke detectors alerted the resident, who quickly assisted another adult out of the home. Both individuals were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but the building was deemed unsafe to occupy by the Building Official, displacing the two residents. It is unclear whether the Red Cross is providing assistance.

The Fire Marshal’s Office determined that unattended cooking was the cause of the fire. Officials emphasized the importance of working smoke detectors, crediting them with preventing a potentially fatal outcome.

These two incidents serve as reminders of the importance of fire safety and preparedness. Residents are urged to ensure their smoke detectors are operational and to never leave cooking unattended. For additional fire safety tips and resources, visit your local fire department’s website.

A fire at the Eagle Village Shopping Center yesterday damaged two businesses and disrupted several others. Play It Again Sports and A Stitch in Time sustained significant fire damage, while adjacent businesses, including the U.S. Post Office, a laundromat, and Perfect 10 Nail Salon, experienced smoke and heat exposure but no flames. The fire, reported at 12:43 p.m., was controlled in approximately 35 minutes by a team of 50 firefighters.

Crews from the Fredericksburg Fire Department, Spotsylvania County Fire, Stafford County Fire-Rescue, King George Emergency Services, and an ambulance from the Naval District of Washington worked together to extinguish the blaze. The cold, brisk wind spread the flames across the roof, which had a styrofoam insulation and rubber membrane structure that complicated firefighting efforts. Firefighters had to cut through the roof membrane over five stores to ensure the flames were fully extinguished.

The shopping center, located at 1281 Emancipation Highway, was formerly known as the Park & Shop Center. A prominent fixture in the Fredericksburg community, Eagle Village hosts a mix of retail and service-oriented businesses.

No injuries were reported among firefighters, though a few civilians were treated for minor smoke inhalation. The Fredericksburg Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire’s origin and cause, with a report expected in the coming days. Utilities to affected businesses were disconnected to prevent further hazards.

Fire alarms went off just before lunchtime on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, bringing firefighters in from several locations in the area and halting traffic and shoppers.

All eyes were on the building at 1016 Caroline Street, an old theater that currently houses a daycare center. Fire trucks and ambulances blocked the street entrances to minimize traffic surrounding the building, and a ladder was extended to the roof, allowing firefighters to access that area.

“The whole block is closed,” said one shop owner across the street.

“The old Victoria Theater is on fire, might be electrical too, not sure,” said another.

The trucks on the scene included Fredericksburg Engines 1 and 2, Ladder 1, Medic 2, and Stafford County Engine 1.

“It takes a lot to figure out where it’s coming from,” said one firefighter that was down on the street.

Firefighters on the roof found an air handler that may have caused the smoke smell, so they investigated further. About 20 minutes later, some of the trucks pulled away, opening some of the side streets to through traffic. Fire officials have not said what caused the commotion.

The event covered first responders from the Fredericksburg and Caroline, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, filling the main ballroom at the Convention Center. There were 19 awards given out to local Virginia State Troopers and county police officers from all over the area. Included in the 19 awards was a lifetime achievement award given to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones, Caroline County Citizens Valor awards given to Shericka Twyner, Russell Trainer, and Desiree Dushane, and the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Citizens Valor Award went to Guillermo Shelton and Austin Leonard.

“We are a better region because of you,” added Steve Cox of Rappahannock Goodwill, one of the sponsors at this event, which the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce hosted.

“In many ways, you represent the best of Virginia,” said Jason Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia. He compared them to World War II’s ‘greatest generation’ and the soldiers that landed at Normandy. “You go to work each morning and put on the bulletproof vest,” he added. “The hardest thing I have to do as Attorney General is speak at the funerals of the fallen first responders,” he said.
As the awards were presented, some details were shared about the officers’ criminal enforcement and other community improvement actions.

Captain Crystal Hill of the Fredericksburg Police launched the city’s first lobotomy program, while Fire Captain John Hanson honed the water rescue program on the Rappahannock River. “The efforts of his work are recognized,” said Stafford Fire Department Chief Joseph Cardello. There were many stories that day that showed the professionalism of all involved.

For the first time at this event, the Chamber introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor exceptional contributions in the field. Retired chief of the Fredericksburg Fire Department, Eddie Allen, presented the award to current Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones.

Jones began his fire service career in 1979 with the Falmouth Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He excelled in training and became a key member of the team. Jones followed in his father’s footsteps, who was a firefighter for Fairfax County. His commitment to excellence saw him rise through the ranks from Lieutenant in 1987 to achieving his dream of becoming Fire Chief in March 2020, a challenging time marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a crucial role in public outreach, recording daily updates to inform and reassure the community during those dark months.

Throughout his career, Jones has been dedicated to community service and building relationships with civic organizations, state agencies, and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he has been a member for over 38 years. He has also been a mentor, preparing others for leadership roles and actively participating in community programs like Leadership Fredericksburg.

Kevin Dillard, Chair of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and this event stated, “Serving as chair of the annual First Responders event provided me the opportunity to do some research whereby I discovered that our organization had never honored a first responder for a lifetime of service in the Commonwealth. I strongly believe that the men and women who have served for many years, whether as volunteer or career first responders, deserve recognition for their many years of public service.”

The sponsors were highlighted as well, and the list included Goodwill Rappahannock, The Oberle Academy, Pierpoint Construction, Lifecare Medical Transports, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Mullins & Thompson, Tire Tread Service, Dominion Energy, Spartan, Fredericksburg Public School Foundation, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Riphean, Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball Team, CIP Finishes, Arsenal Events, Truist, Found and Sons, Hilldrup, Matern, Germanna, Little Tire, Discover Next Step, Topside, PRSA, The UPS Store, Virginia Credit Union, Black Rifle Coffee, Mattaponi Springs and RSQ.

Fredericksburg’s Fire Department is on the scene now at 800 Caroline Street for a structure fire. The building is home to Dragonfly Yoga and Stage Door Productions, amongst others.

No injuries have been reported, but drivers are advised to use alternate routes in downtown Fredericksburg.