ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. — It's been a few weeks since the massive fire destroyed the warehouse that at one point housed 13 businesses that ranged from auto repair to a gymnastics studio. David Stuart, the owner of Stuart's Marine, a boat repair shop inside that warehouse tells me he’s lost everything.
He was working in his boat repair shop when the fire started. Reports say the blaze spread through the 23-thousand-square-foot warehouse, affecting all 13 businesses inside. Each flame took a piece of David's livelihood with it.
”We lost everything we had in our shop. All of our equipment, special tools, inventory, a customer's boat, all our personal hand tools, everything was gone,” Stuart said.
The Isle of White Fire Chief Garry Windley told 13News Now the warehouse was a total loss and a hazard order was put in place due to runoff water used in putting out the fire. He says the area is safe but the order remains in place for “administrative reasons.”
"The turnout gear that the firefighters were wearing, some of that got damaged, some hoses were damaged and were going to be getting reimbursement to replace the firefighting equipment that got damaged,” Windley said.
The Virginia State Police are investigating the fire. They say the fire was an accident but it's undetermined.
Chief Windley says that the order will be lifted when county administrators meet later this month.