Fire in Wall Behind Market 2 Market Causes Estimated $200,000 in Damages

7:45 p.m. update — Power will not be restored at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, The Dairy Godmother and The UPS Store until 11 a.m. Saturday, according to Liz Davis, owner of the The Dairy Godmother.

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Alexandria and Arlington fire crews responded to a fire that started shortly after 3 p.m. Friday inside a wall at the rear of Market 2 Market in the 100 block of E. Del Ray Avenue.

Alexandria Chief Fire Marshal Robert Rodriguez said it was “an accidental fire” that started in the first-floor wall of the sandwich shop. Smoke made its way into the basement and second floor of the building, which sustained an estimated $200,000 in damages, Rodriguez said.

• See: VIDEO: Alexandria Fire Crews Respond to Fire Behind St. Elmo's Coffee Pub
• See: Photo Gallery: Market 2 Market Fire

No injuries were reported. The fire was called in at 3:08 p.m. and was declared extinguished at 4:19 p.m., according to Rodriguez.

The Alexandria Health Department was evaluating several businesses in the retail strip, including St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, The UPS Store and The Dairy Godmother early Friday evening. Several of the businesses were without power and anticipated to reopen Friday if power was restored.

Liz Davis, owner of The Dairy Godmother, said the custard shop would reopen Friday if it regains power before 7 p.m.

Rodriguez anticipated Market 2 Market would have to close for some repairs.

The incident shut down parts of Mount Vernon and E. Del Ray avenues for more than an hour. 

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