NITRO, W.Va. — A blaze in Nitro Monday night left a tire and auto service shop in ashes. The blaze was first reported around 9:30 p.m. to Kanawha County 911 by a passing motorist. Deputy Kanawha County Emergency Services Manager C.W. Sigman told MetroNews flagship station WCHS Radio the fire burned rapidly inside Absolute Tire and Service on Route 25.
“One person driving by saw the fire, pulled off and called 911. In that 30 second process the fire had already gone through the roof,” said Sigman. “Supposedly somebody was inside the business and I figure if it had been burning a long time somebody in the building would have called earlier. Whatever caused the fire caused it to have a lot of fire at one time.”
The flames spread through the roof of the building and the business was a total loss. Sigman noted however fire crews did a tremendous job of saving buildings on either side of the burning building.
“The building is a total loss as is most stuff that was in the building,” Sigman explained. “But they kept it to that building for the most part. They had a very close exposure on both sides, but they were able to keep those buildings from burning and had minimal damage on those. They kept it to the one building.”
The investigation into a cause is underway. The Assistant State Fire Marshal was on the scene even before the flames were under control. The investigation continues today.
Crews had to deal with toxic and heavy black smoke. Sigman said although dangerous, it was not as much as the tire warehouse fire in the same area from several years ago. A number of residents who lived in close proximity to the business were evacuated for their homes for a short period of time as a precaution.