Fire damages Beach realty office on Independence Blvd.

VIRGINIA BEACH

A fire caused substantial damage Sunday morning to the PenSouth Realty Corp. office on Independence Boulevard, the Virginia Beach Fire Department said.

A motorist reported the fire about 8:30 a.m. at the two-story office, located at 498 S. Independence Blvd., near Mount Trashmore, fire Battalion Chief Dave Hutcheson said.

Fire had broken through a window by the time firefighters arrived. The fire appeared to have started on the first floor and spread through a second floor and into the attic, he said. It took about 45 minutes to bring it under control, he said.

The cause remains under investigation. No one was injured.

Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com