Fire quickly spread across the rooftop of the Thomassen Ford building in Charles Town on Dec. 26, after materials caught fire during some welding repairs. Toni Milbourne

CHARLES TOWN-Fire quickly spread across the rooftop of the Thomassen Ford building in Charles Town on Dec. 26, after materials caught fire during some welding repairs.

Independent Fire Chief Adam Watson said that the dealership was having roof work done, including the welding work, when the fire ignited.

“The flames spread across the roof into the second floor of the building where all of the auto parts were stored,” Watson said. “They lost everything.”

Due to the renovations occurring at the business location, there were no new cars in the dealer showroom; however, the loss of the building and the contents totaled more than $2 million, Watson said.

The call came out at approximately 12:30 p.m., and was responded to by all seven Jefferson County companies, as well as the companies from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the National Guard, Loudoun Heights and South Berkeley.

“Washington County and Frederick County Maryland companies were in-station fills for our units,” Watson said.

According to Watson, the fire was under control within a couple an hour and a half, but some units remained on scene until nearly 5:30 p.m.

Watson said that there was approximately two-and-a-half inches of water on the floor in other parts of the building, some of which is used to house papers and artifacts from the National Park Service.

“There was no real damage in that portion of the building,” Watson confirmed.

Watson confirmed one worker was transported to Jefferson Medical Center for smoke inhalation and said to his knowledge, the patient’s condition is not critical.

Power outages occurred for approximately 600 residents and businesses as the ladder trucks needed to gain access to the rooftop to fight the fire.

“Activities at the scene ran smoothly, thanks in great part to the Charles Town Police Department,” Watson said. “They had a difficult job of rerouting traffic and getting school buses out.”