An early morning fire destroyed a Wendy’s restaurant in Alexandria, sending clouds of black smoke into the sky and slowing traffic as drivers gawked.
The restaurant had not yet opened for business and no one was injured. A firefighter is being treated after complaining of chest pain, said Jane Malik, spokeswoman for the Alexandria Fire Department.
The fire department received numerous calls about 6:15 a.m., reporting black smoke coming from the building at 299 South Van Dorn Street between Interstates 395 and 495, Malik said.
Three of the department’s trucks fought the “very intense” fire, Malik said. For two hours, each truck pumped 1,000 gallons of water per minute at the fire.
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, but the extensive damage will slow the process, Malik said. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time.
Just a month ago, another Alexandria restaurant, Sergeant’s, was badly damaged by a fire. It was also closed at the time, and no one was injured.
