Smoke and flames on Friday afternoon poured from the roof of the Graystone Inn, a bed and breakfast in downtown Wilmington that had previously closed in 2023 because of a fire.

The plumes of smoke drew several fire trucks and shut down traffic in both directions on Third Street (pictured at left). A call came into the Wilmington Fire Department around 1 p.m., according to Rebekah Thurston, the department's public information officer.

In 2023, the building, 101 S. Third St., suffered a fire that caused massive smoke and water damage inside the historical landmark.

According to the Graystone Inn's website, the bed and breakfast was closed but planned to reopen soon.

The cause of the 2023 fire was determined by the fire marshal’s office to be an accidental kitchen fire. At the time, the inn’s owners, husband-and-wife Ace and Jamie Alfalla, had spent millions on renovations to the bed-and-breakfast, which was originally built as a home around 1905. 

Originally called The Bridgers Mansion, the home was built by Elizabeth Haywood Bridgers. It was purchased in 2004 by Richard and Marcia Moore, and they sold it to Alfalla Hospitality in 2021 for nearly $2 million.

In a social media post on Friday, the Wilmington Police Department encouraged drivers to avoid the 100 block of Third Street, between Market and Orange streets, as firefighters responded to the fire.