Firefighters battle a blaze at the Eagle Village shopping center in Fredericksburg on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Fire departments from Fredericksburg City and Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George counties participated. (Photo by Robert A. Martin)

The December fire that damaged several businesses along a strip of the Eagle Village Shopping Center began in a back warehouse area at Play It Again Sports, according to findings released by the Fredericksburg Fire Marshal’s Office on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite an “extensive examination of the area,” where employees reported hearing “unusual noises overhead” prior to the blaze, authorities were unable to identify a source of ignition. The official cause of the fire remains undetermined.

At 12:42 p.m., on Dec. 5, the Fredericksburg Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at the strip mall, which is located in the 1200 block of Emancipation Highway. Dispatchers reported receiving multiple calls for a fire in the back warehouse of a business.

When personnel arrived, they found a large fire in the back of the building and on the roof. Personnel, which included units from Fredericksburg and Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George counties, began immediate efforts to extinguish the fire.

The fire marshal and two deputy fire marshals responded to the scene at the time of dispatch. At that time, conditions were unsafe for them to begin an interior investigation, so they conducted an exterior survey of the building and interviewed witnesses and victims. At 2:45 p.m., fire marshals were able to enter the structure.

According to the report, witnesses stated that the fire was first seen in the back warehouse area of Play It Again Sports. When employees entered the warehouse, they saw a large volume of fire in the warehouse. Employees immediately and safely evacuated.

Observation of fire patterns, testimony of witnesses, and viewing of available video indicated that the fire started in the warehouse area of Play It Again Sports along the west wall. The area contained a desk, files, and other office items. The origin was determined to be the 1281 Emancipation Highway address, near or above the area used as office space. The fire spread eastward from that point, fueled by the heavy presence of combustible storage.

Wind conditions also contributed to the spread of the fire. Businesses throughout the strip were affected by fire, water, smoke, and/or heat.

This investigation is ongoing and the fire marshal’s office will provide any future updates as they are found.