UPDATE:
The Danville Fire Marshal’s Office and the Virginia State Police have determined the cause of the Fire that occurred Friday April 1, 2022 at the Ballou Park Roses Express Store. The fire was deliberately set by a juvenile that was in the store as the mother shopped. The store was occupied by several other shoppers and store employees. The juvenile reported smelling smoke to the employees which then discovered the fire and immediately began evacuating the store. Two employees tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful. There were several witnesses and video surveillance footage that aided in the investigation. The juvenile has been taken into custody and the name and age of the juvenile will not be released.
Richard Guill
Lieutenant / Assistant Fire Marshal
Danville Fire Department
The Danville Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at Roses Department Store at 653 W. Main St at 5:30 pm yesterday afternoon.. Upon arrival crews found light smoke coming from the front door that quickly changed to heavy black smoke and fire engulfing the inside of the structure. The business sustained heavy fire damage throughout the structure. The businesses on either side of the fire building sustained smoke and heat damage as well as water damage. Those businesses include Dollar General, ColorTyme Rentals, and Charms. Five engines, two ladder trucks, a safety officer and a Battalion Chief responded. Danville Life Saving Crew, Danville Police Department, and Danville Utilities assisted in handling this incident. Units were on scene five and a half hours. No injuries were reported.
Battalion Chief, F. D. Fowler