A frightening moment for the Roanoke City Market Building—but the damage wasn’t as bad as first feared after a “staple” of the area caught on fire. WFIR’s Ian Price reports.
ROANOKE, Va. — The Roanoke City Market Building has reopened just days after a kitchen fire at Fork in the Market triggered alarms and activated the building’s suppression system Friday afternoon. While smoke spread to all three floors, no injuries were reported, and damage was largely confined to the restaurant.
New developments:
- Cleanup wrapped up by Saturday, allowing all other businesses in the building to resume normal operations, according to Market Building Foundation Executive Director Elliott Broyles.
- Cause still undetermined: Investigators are reviewing what sparked the fire, which sent smoke billowing through downtown Roanoke and prompted temporary street closures.
- Community support urged: Broyles emphasized that the Market Building’s vendors are open for business and encouraged residents to visit.
Previously reported on June 20, 2025:
ROANOKE, Va. — Fork in the Market says no one was harmed in Friday’s fire at the Roanoke City Market Building. In a post on the restaurant’s official Facebook page, staff said the restaurant will remain closed for the rest of the day and will share reopening plans when available.
Roanoke Fire-EMS crews responded to the fire around 3 p.m. Friday. Several streets downtown were shut down while crews worked to contain the flames, which officials say are now under control.
Initial observations from the scene suggest the fire may have started at Fork in the Market, a restaurant located inside the building. That detail has not yet been officially confirmed.
No information has been released regarding the extent of the damage.
WFIR will share any official statements if they are released over the weekend.
