Several Employees Attempt to Put Out Fire at Beamon Johnson/NAPA Auto Parts Store

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Suffolk Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a commercial structure fire in the 100 block of South Saratoga Street on March 13th, 2012 at 12:05 p.m.

Units arrived on scene at the Beamon Johnson/NAPA Auto Parts Store to find a working fire. There were seven employees and two customers in the building at the time of the fire. Firefighters were directed to the side of the building by employees where smoke was seen from a large overhead garage door. Fire crews quickly contained the fire in the rear of the warehouse which adjoins the main sales showroom.

This warehouse area contains many large metal storage racks with automobile parts. Several employees including a retired Suffolk Fireman attempted to extinguish the fire before Suffolk Fire and Rescue arrived. One of the employees was treated on the scene by paramedics and refused further treatment. No other injuries were reported.

The fire was brought under control at 12:45 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. To note, this week marks the 16th anniversary of the Advance Auto Parts fire in Chesapeake, Virginia, which claimed the lives of two Chesapeake firefighters. Several Suffolk firefighters attended an off-duty class in Hampton, Virginia, this past weekend where this fire was discussed.

Firefighters reviewed the methods used to fight that fire, which involved truss roof construction and hidden fire dangers. Due, in part, to lessons learned as a result of that fire in 1996, Suffolk Firefighters were successful in controlling today's fire at the auto parts store.

Fire Lieutenant Aimee Barrineau, the first arriving company officer from Engine 1, noted that the first thing she thought about when arriving at today's fire was the Chesapeake Advance Auto fire from March 18, 1996.