$150K Fire Damage to Shopping Center That Recently Remodeled

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Four businesses sustained more than $150,000 in damage from a fire Wednesday at the Festival at Riva shopping center, authorities said.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department received reports about 2 a.m. of a burning smell near the Cheeburger Cheeburger at 2329 Forest Drive. Firefighters found smoke coming from the rear of the business and a fire in the kitchen area which was contained by the carbon dioxide fire suppression system.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the remaining fire. A check of adjacent businesses showed three — California Tortilla, Ceremony Coffee and the European Wax Center — had sustained smoke and water damage. Representatives from all of the businesses were notified, and the Anne Arundel County Health Department was notified for the restaurants, the fire department said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit. Total damage to all the businesses is estimated to be more than $150,000. There were no injuries reported.

The shopping center recently held a grand reopening after several months of renovations wrapped up, The Capital-Gazette says.