Several area fire crews helped put out a fire at a boiler room and building in Blackstone last week. The area was closed off as the firefighters worked to control the situation.

Group Effort

Kenbridge joins surrounding departments to fight Blackstone fire

By Brian Nowlin, Staff Writer

BLACKSTONE – Kenbridge Fire Department was one of five area fire departments that responded to a boiler room fire at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly in Blackstone on last Wednesday afternoon.

Blackstone, Fort Pickett, Kenbridge, Crewe and Burkeville fire departments were all dispatched to the large fire. The fire departments helped control huge flames and smoke rolling out of the building, and luckily, the fire was kept and contained to just the boiler room area where it started. While the building where the fire took place was a total loss, the rest of the building at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly was spared and did not suffer any damage.

According to reports, work was being done to the boilers. The boilers went online approximately one year ago at the facility.

The Virginia United Methodist Assembly location was originally known as the Blackstone College for Girls. The large campus is located at 707 4th Street in the town of Blackstone and reportedly hosts around 20,000 people per year for events at the location.