BREAKING: Firefighters Battling Blaze at Vienna’s Pennywise Thrift Shop

Update on 1/25/19: The fire started when a large tree fell onto power lines servicing the building, resulting in a power surge within the electrical panel located in the basement, said Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. There were no injuries, but the damage from the fire is approximately $25,000.

(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Firefighters are on scene of a two-alarm structure fire in the Town of Vienna.

The blaze broke out in a basement of the Pennywise Thrift Shop, at the intersection of Church and Mill streets, around 12:30 p.m. As of 1:05 p.m., firefighters on the scene said that the fire was still burning but was largely under control. As of 1:20 p.m., firefighters were removing portions of walls on the first floor, reporting that additional fire was burning in the walls.

Numerous road closures have been reported in the area. So far, no injuries have been reported.

The thrift shop has been open since 1961 and sells “affordable, lightly used clothing and household items,” according to its website. The store is run by Vienna’s Church of the Holy Comforter.

A tree fell on utility lines near the store, causing a hazard for firefighters, according to a fire department spokesperson, but it’s not clear whether that might have also helped to cause the fire.

As of 2 p.m., the fire was out and investigators were working to determine the cause.

One local resident told Tysons Reporter that she is concerned about how the thrift store will be able to recover and what will happen to everything inside.

“I’m worried about all of the merchandise in the thrift store there,” the resident said. “It’s probably all smoke damaged now.”

https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxcountyfirerescue/videos/vb.412016308855827/292026685004920

UPDATE – 100 block of Church St NE in Vienna. Fire is out. No injuries reported at this time. Second Alarm units returning to service. #fcfrd #fairfaxcounty #news pic.twitter.com/ik4Kme04MY

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 24, 2019

UPDATE – 100 block of Church St NE in Vienna with fire in the basement. Fire is under control. Crews checking for any extension of fire. #fcfrd #fairfaxcounty #news pic.twitter.com/xBsFN1o2gf

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 24, 2019

Due to response to a fire at Church and Mill streets, several roads and intersections in the area are currently closed. Please avoid the area if possible.

— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) January 24, 2019

Units on scene 100 block of Church St NE in Vienna with fire in the basement. Second alarm requested. #fcfrd #fairfaxcounty #news pic.twitter.com/ekxphlffVJ

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 24, 2019

Photo (8) via Google Maps