Massive fire destroys three buildings under construction in Virginia mixed-use development

Firefighters responded to the four-alarm fire and found a five-story building in flames in the Alexandria area of the city.

The fire was contained after five area fire crews spent around eight hours battling the flames. One firefighter and one civilian were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, Fairfax Fire and Rescue tweeted.

Along with the five-story building, a two-story building and a townhome building -- both under construction -- were destroyed, according to CNN affiliate WJLA-TV.

Developers broke ground on the project in December 2018, WJLA reported.

The buildings that burned were part of a large mixed-use development called South Alex in what is called the Penn Daw area, WJLA reported.

The affiliate reported that developers broke ground in December 2018 . The development prior to Saturday's fire was supposed to be finished by summer 2021, according to the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation website.

CNN's Hollie Silverman and Laura James contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)