Two Petersburg fires over the weekend displace 46
Jan 12, 2026
PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Two fires on Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan 11 displaced dozens of people in Petersburg.
Over the weekend Petersburg Fire and Emergency Services crews responded to fires at a home on Kirkham Street, and a hotel on Wythe Street. No one was hurt, but a total of 46 people
were displaced.
On Saturday, fire crews responded to the Kirkham Street home around 1 p.m. The department shared dramatic photos of the home, consumed by flames.
(Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue Emergency Services)(Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue Emergency Services)(Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue Emergency Services)(Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue Emergency Services)(Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue Emergency Services)
Joe Wardy Chamberlain lives in the neighborhood, and said he was on his way to work when he saw the crews responding.
"My friend that lives there, I saw his car was gone. So, glad for that," Chamberlain said. "And then I didn't see the other neighbor's car, so I was grateful they weren't there. [Firefighters] had it pretty much under control, but you can still see some blazing going on."
Officials said a power line fell onto the house early into the incident, but that wasn't the cause of the fire. Instead, the Petersburg Fire Marshal's office said a resident found a mattress on fire on the first floor, and dragged it outside. That caused the flames to spread to other parts of the home.
"It was through the whole place," Chamberlain said of the fire. "One thing just triggered... older houses like that have a tendency to do that. They're made out of materials that are highly flammable, so it just goes up."
No one was injured, but four adults and two children were displaced.
"I know it was a terrifying situation for them," local realtor Artisha Gay said. "Just losing all your belongings, and having to run out and find you somewhere else to live. Hopefully someone come and help that family."
Just a few miles away on Sunday, Fire Marshals said the fire at the Best Inn started with the electrical failure of an air conditioning unit in a second floor room.
Fire crews said they found the complex with a heavy fire on the right side. The fire was under control in 12 minutes, but 40 residents had to be relocated by bus to another hotel.
...read more
read less