SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — The building housing a longtime Summersville business sustained significant damage in a Thursday night fire.
Summersville Mayor Robert Shafer told MetroNews Friday Wholesale Auto Parks on Webster Road went up in flames at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
“The entire front of the building where the retail store was for parts, and of course all of the offices, is a total loss,” Shaffer said.
The damage is estimated at $250,000.
The front and back areas of the building are separated by a customer waiting area. Fire crews were able keep most of the flame damage from the garage area.
There have been a rash of arsons in Summersville and Nicholas County during the last year but the mayor said Thursday’s fire won’t be on that list.
“I feel real confident saying this—early indications are it was causes within the building and was not arson,” Shafer said.
The fire had apparently been burning for a period of time before it was noticed. Mayor Shaffer says a construction crew drilled through Frontier Communication fiber optic lines in Summesville earlier Thursday putting phone and internet service out to most of the city. He says that impacted the business’s alarm system.
“It let the fire get totally engulfed (before) somebody saw the flames,” he said.
Meanwhile, the multiple arson investigations continue in Summersville and surrounding communities. Mayor Shafer said Friday city and county officials are committed to fight any efforts to make the area a “playground for arsons.”