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AFD extinguishes Sunday blaze at West End dry cleaners

A small fire was extinguished at the Mark Center Cleaners yesterday evening (Sunday).

The Alexandria Fire Department was called at around 5:45 p.m. and arrived at 1458 N. Beauregard Street to find flames coming out of the rear of the one-story building, according to dispatch reports. The fire was extinguished in 10 minutes.

“Some clothing was damaged, and we’re talking with the insurance company now,” said Jennifer Lee, whose parents own the business. “We’ve been here 40 years, and this has never happened.”

No injuries were reported. The fire was found to have started on a small table in the rear of the building, according to dispatches.

“Due to an unexpected fire, we are temporarily closed,” the store posted on Google. “The fire is currently under investigation. We apologize for any inconvenience and will re-open as soon as possible. Thank you for your kindness and patronage for 40 years. Please contact Jennifer for emergencies.”

Image via Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. IAFF Local 2141/Facebook. Video courtesy of Mark Center Cleaners. 

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.