A commercial structure fire at Patriot Plaza on Richmond Road prompted a multi-agency response Monday morning, with no reported injuries and the cause still under investigation.
What happened
According to the City of Williamsburg, the fire was reported at approximately 10:14 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2026, in the 3000 block of Richmond Road (Patriot Plaza). Firefighters arrived at about 10:18 a.m., encountered heavy smoke, and located an active kitchen fire inside a business.
The city said crews had water on the fire by 10:26 a.m. and brought the incident under control at approximately 10:52 a.m.
Response timeline, in plain terms
- Call received at 10:14 a.m.
- First units arrived by 10:18 a.m. (about 4 minutes later).
- Water on the fire by 10:26 a.m. (about 8 minutes after arrival).
- Fire under control by 10:52 a.m. (about 38 minutes after initial report).
What officials confirmed
- No injuries were reported.
- All businesses in the strip mall were evacuated as a precaution during operations.
- A total of 30 firefighters responded.
- The Williamsburg Fire Department’s Community Risk Reduction team is investigating the cause.
Williamsburg Fire Department said the response included support from James City County Fire Department, York County Fire and Life Safety, Peninsula Regional Emergency Communications Center, Williamsburg Police Department, Williamsburg Planning and Codes Compliance, Dominion Energy, and Virginia Natural Gas.
What nearby businesses and visitors should know next
- Operations can vary by tenant: Because businesses were evacuated and one unit was directly affected, store-by-store reopening status may differ.
- Call ahead before visiting: If you planned to visit Patriot Plaza businesses, confirm hours directly before driving over.
- Expect follow-up activity: Investigation and safety review work can continue after fire suppression is complete.
- Avoid speculation: The official cause has not been released yet. Any conclusions before the investigation is complete are preliminary.
We will update this story when city officials publish the investigation outcome or any additional occupancy and safety guidance.
Why this matters beyond one shopping center
Federal fire data shows commercial and workplace fires are not rare events. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates there were 110,000 nonresidential building fires nationwide in 2023, with 130 deaths, 1,200 injuries, and about $3.16 billion in dollar loss. In a separate USFA workplace-safety summary, the agency reported 16,500 office and store fires in 2020 causing $932 million in direct property damage.
That context helps explain why rapid evacuation, mutual aid, and follow-up investigation are central in incidents like Patriot Plaza, even when no injuries are reported.
Source
- City of Williamsburg News Flash: Commercial Fire – 3000 Block of Richmond Road (posted Feb. 23, 2026)
- U.S. Fire Administration: Nonresidential Fire Estimate Summaries (2014-2023)
- U.S. Fire Administration: Workplace Fire Safety
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