Kinsale has been hit with another commercial building fire, this time at the old Potomac Supply pellet mill followed by several additional fires the same day.

On Wednesday, April 1, Kinsale Road was closed from Cople Highway to Shingle Hill as crews battled a large overnight blaze involving a building at the old Potomac Supply pellet mill, drawing a response from fire departments from across the region. Trucks were in and out of Kinsale all night as Ridge Md Boat 4 supplied water from the granary.

Dahlgren Company 28 reported being dispatched around midnight and assisting with cutting and opening up building materials. Its Rescue Engine 28 was assigned water supply and reported supplying over 150,000 gallons of water to two aerials and hose lines, with crews operating on scene for over five hours before being released.

The fire, which damaged two other buildings, was contained and completely extinguished by 6 a.m., Cople District Volunteer Fire Department Chief Todd Padgett reported.

Later that morning, units were still at the scene working with Virginia State Police on the investigation when a second fire was confirmed inside a shavings bin. Padgett said that fire was monitored until 11 a.m., and at that time the decision was made to let it burn since it was contained. Crews continued to monitor it, as information provided showed the bin was empty.

At 3 p.m., black smoke was seen again at Potomac Supply. It was found that there was a woods fire behind the plant in the old log yard. Padgett said this was a separate incident from the previous two fires. This was a wind driven fire in a ravine that risked spreading to nearby homes, prompting an evacuation of those from Potomac Supply to Shingle Hill Road. Kinsale Volunteer Fire Department opened its doors to evacuees.

CDVFD again enlisted the aid of Westmoreland Emergency Management and regional mutual aid partners. At 6:30 p.m., the Virginia Department of Forestry made the call to let the remaining fire burn, as it was reportedly contained. The evacuation order was lifted and residents were able to return to their homes, but Kinsale Road remained closed to non residents.

By the time residents were allowed to return, the fire in the shavings bin had been extinguished, but units returned that night due to resident concerns and discovered a small rekindle at the shavings bin, which was fully extinguished.

During that evening incident, Padgett reported there was a structure fire on Black Beard Pond Road that again was handled by a unified response of units on scene at Potomac.

Kinsale Road did not reopen until about 8:30 p.m., and fire operations were still underway. By 8 a.m. Thursday, there was still fire within the fire lines of the log yard fire, and residents were advised that they would see smoke in the area. But Padgett said the department was committed to monitoring the situation until it was extinguished.

Another Commercial Fire This incident comes two months after a fire burned a commercial building at Bevans Oyster Company’s main operating plant on Skipjack Road. That Kinsale blaze was also reported around midnight and required an hours long overnight battle.

Virginia State Police Sergeant Jessica Shehan said there is still an active investigation into the incident at Bevans Oyster Company, and because of that she was unable to comment on whether the two commercial fires are suspected to be connected.