Atwater Soccer Complex fire in Hopewell started with fireworks, fire officials say

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — The Hopewell Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that a Sunday night fire at the Atwater Soccer Complex , which caused significant damage, was caused by discarded fireworks.

The fire took place the night of Sunday, July 14. Firefighters were at the scene within minutes of being called and the fire was put out in just over a half hour. The structure itself and what it contained were all severely damaged in the fire, with a sizeable portion of the roof now missing.

On July 15, the Fire Marshal’s Office shared that its investigation found the fire to be suspicious. In a July 18 update , fire officials provided more information on how the fire began.

According to that update, the fire was started by discarded firework material.

Investigators are working to determine whether people were in the parking lot of the complex setting off fireworks on the night of the fire.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is asking anyone who drove by the complex between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday night and noticed activity there to call investigators at 804-541-2290.

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