Public Storage blaze on Carlson Boulevard keeps street closed as city assesses structural damage

A large fire at a Public Storage facility on Carlson Boulevard has left the street closed while city and fire officials assess structural safety, Richmond Police Department crime prevention manager Michelle Milam said during a community meeting. Milam told residents she does not yet have a timeline for reopening the road and will follow up with city staff to provide more public information.

Why it matters: residents said the closure is diverting traffic onto narrower residential streets, increasing commute times and vehicle idling at peak hours. "It has basically cut the South Side from getting to the other side of the city," said Ahmad, a resident who raised traffic and access concerns. Milam acknowledged the impact and said she will share the community’s concerns with Lina Velasco (community development director), the planning team and public works leadership.

Milam described the incident as a large blaze that required substantial firefighting resources and said safety concerns about the Public Storage structure motivated the road closure. "Until they deal with some of the structural issues," she said, "they're concerned about people driving on that street and, you know, being injured, so that's why they have it blocked off." Milam said she will request more detailed timelines from the relevant departments and promised to report back.

Residents also asked whether the city could support property owners with repair costs; Ahmad said repair costs may be large and that the owners were in conversations with the city. Milam said she would raise the question with city leadership but did not offer an immediate answer.

The meeting did not record any formal actions or commitments with specific deadlines; Milam’s promise was a follow-up to gather more information for residents.