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A commercial building under construction in Glenarden caught fire this morning after roofing materials ignited, a Prince George's County fire official said.

Although thick smoke filled the air, damage to the building, which is believed to be a JC Penney retail store, is limited, said Mark Brady, spokesman for the county fire/EMS department. The store, located at 2020 St. Joseph's Drive, is part of the forthcoming Woodmore Towne Centre, where the much-hyped Wegman's grocery store will also be located.

Firefighters believe the fire broke out on the roof when some roofing and tarring materials ignited. Damage cost estimates have not been determined, and firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire, Brady said this afternoon.

Construction workers, who were on the scene when the fire started, were able to help direct firefighters around the construction site and through the building to get to the roof, Brady said. Because the site is under construction, Brady said firefighters did not have a map of nearby fire hydrants but were quickly able to locate working hydrants and begin extinguishing the fire. Firefighters were still on the scene at noon.

anoble@gazette.net