UPDATE: The Huntington Fire Department expects to have crews on the scene of a blaze at the former A & A Transmissions building for the next 24 hours.
The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday and roared through the entire building. Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader told WSAZ TV the fire was suspicious since the building was boarded up and had no electricity.
The business closed many years ago and the building had been boarded up after problems with vagrants breaking in. The building still included some of the equipment, there was a lot of wood inside, and a pair of 200 pound propane tanks. Firemen were able to direct the flames away from those.
The fire is now under control, but continues to smolder. Firemen remain on the scene dousing hot spots as they flare up.
Appalachian Power continues to restore power to the surrounding area and expects to have power fully restored sometime this morning. At one point more than 3,000 homes and businesses lost electrical service due to the fire.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — An early morning fire in downtown Huntington leaves more than 3,000 homes and businesses without power.
The fire started about 2:30 this morning in the old A & A Transmissions Building at the corner of 4th Avenue and 3rd Street.
Nobody has been reported injured in the blaze. Appalachian Power says it will be 9am at least before the power is restored.
The fire covered the entire length of the building–which spans half a city block. No word on what started the fire.