March 26, 2004

RICHMOND, Va. — A fire fueled by 20 mph winds destroyed or damaged nearly 30 buildings in downtown Richmond on Friday, including a four-story apartment building under construction and several row houses, officials said.

Richmond Mayor Rudy McCollum called it the city's worst fire in 30 years.

Fire officials said a warehouse and a four-story apartment building that was under construction were among those destroyed by the fire near the Virginia Commonwealth University (search) campus, about a mile west of the state capital.

The source of the fire is still unknown, but fire officials believe the blaze started in the apartment house. A warehouse and several row houses also appeared to be destroyed.

There were two known injuries, including one firefighter and a Virginia Commonwealth University security guard. Both suffered minor smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of other injuries in the blaze near the VCU campus about one mile west of the state Capitol.

Fire officials roped off a 6-square-block area around the wind-swept blaze.

The fire started shortly after 12:30 p.m. at the site of a former fast-food restaurant and spread to the apartment building, said fire department spokesman Lt. Keith Vida. Variable winds gusting to nearly 20 mph blew burning debris onto other buildings, officials said.

The fire was still burning at midafternoon.

Traffic was at a standstill in the area, including nearby Interstate 95 where witnesses said burning debris had fallen.

Police evacuated several buildings and about 50 nearby homes, going door-to-door asking people to leave, Vida said. Among the buildings evacuated were a VCU dormitory, the campus bookstore and fine arts building, a parking deck, and two nearby public schools. The roof of the fine arts building was damaged by the blaze, VCU officials said.

At one point Richmond's fire chief asked a local television station to move its news helicopter because it was fanning the flames as it hovered.

Mayor Rudy McCollum said at least 19 commercial buildings, nine residences and 20 cars were damaged. He called it the city's worst fire in 30 years.

Vida said the cause of the blaze has not been determined.

The destroyed apartment building would have housed more than 170 VCU students, who were to move into the building in August 2004. Officials of the urban university said the apartment project and planned retail development nearby was expected to cost $14 million.

The developer had spent up to $4 million on the project, VCU officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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