A dawn fire in Fries damaged the historic Washington Inn

Fries, Virginia – On the morning of January 1, Fries Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene of a fire at the historic Washington Inn Hotel.

According to fire officials, workers arrived at approximately 10:22 a.m. after being notified that smoke was emanating from the three-story building. Firefighters on the site established lines to start fighting the fire after confirming that smoke was coming from the third story.

With a swift response, crews were able to aggressively drive out the fire. According to officials, the fire was contained to the room where it started and only caused minimal smoke damage to the other parts of the structure.

Tower 11 of the Galax Fire Department contributed to the response as well. As of right now, no injuries have been recorded.

When the Historic Washington Inn was first constructed in 1902, it served as a lodging for nearby mill workers. The structure was converted into a restaurant and an inn after the rear half was devastated by a flood in the 1940s. The inn has been updated with contemporary conveniences while maintaining its traditional charm.

“We are really grateful to our mutual aid partners for their assistance! For the purpose of preserving one of the several historic structures inside the municipal limits, this was the best result that could be achieved!