HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. – Four buildings housing eight businesses were destroyed in a massive fire Thursday morning in historic Harpers Ferry.
The blaze, first reported at about 3 a.m., gutted buildings on both Potomac and High streets. A few gift shops, a pub, and a data processing business were among those destroyed.
Harpers Ferry historian and tour guide Rick Garland described the damage on MetroNews ‘Talkline.’ He had spoken with the resident who reported the fire.
“He got up at about 3 o’clock in the morning and looked out the window and saw flames on the stairs,” Garland said.
The wooden stairs, built less than two years ago, go between some of the buildings.
Investigators with state Fire Marshal’s Office were on the scene by mid-morning, Friendship Fire Department Chief Ronnie Shutts said. He said those who responded to the blaze had their hands full.
No injuries. We treated a couple on scene for heat.” Shutts said. “After they got treated they got back in service and helped us finish.”
The fire marshal will determine what started the blaze, Shutts said.
“Right now we’re not going to disturb anything. None of the structures or its contents can be disturbed.”
The fire did not look suspicious, according to the chief, but investigators will make the final determination.
There were two apartments in the buildings that were destroyed. One resident was not at home at the time of the blaze. Another resident was able to escape without injury. Two cats were killed in the blaze, Garland said.
The fire did not reach the buildings that are part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
“None of the national park buildings were effected…it’s about a full city block (away),” Garland said.
The buildings that were destroyed were built nearly 200 years ago.
“The fact that it’s from the 1830s–that does lend some historical value. It would be one of the early buildings when this town was an armory, building guns,” Garland said.
The fire disrupted the morning commute by shutting off traffic on Potomac Street and denying the public access to the Harpers Ferry rail station on the MARC Brunswick Line between Washington, D.C. and Martinsburg.
Multiple fire companies from Jefferson County responded to the scene. They joined by crews from surrounding counties including Berkeley, Loudoun, Va., Washington and Frederick, Md.
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