Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 30, 1990 TAG: 9004300359
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
One firefighter was hospitalized with chest pains. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters and at least one store owner said Sunday night's blaze may have been set.
Damage estimates were not available Sunday night. Capt. Grover W. Smiley of the Charlottesville Fire Department said losses "could be in the hundreds of thousands" of dollars.
About 65 firefighters from the city, five Albemarle County volunteer stations and Orange and Augusta County battled the blaze until it was brought under control about 10:30 p.m., Smiley said.
The mall buildings were empty at the time of the fire, he said.
A Charlottesville volunteer firefighter, George Dillard, was taken to the University of Virginia Hospital suffering chest pain, Smiley said. He was in satisfactory condition Sunday night, a spokesman said.
The fire began on the second floor above The Mens and Boys Shop, Smiley said.
The first city firefighters responded at 6:23 p.m. The fire spread across the second floor above Charlottesville Appliance, reached the third floor and eventually broke through the roof.
An open space above the appliance and clothing stores was heavily damaged by fire. Smoke and water damaged Miller's restaurant, the Fat City Diner, Central Virginia Coin and Antiques and Consignment House Unlimited.
The blaze was the area's third major fire in three weeks. A set fire burned part of Albemarle High School April 17, and a suspicious fire occurred April 18 at the Varsity Park Apartments.
by CNB