LOGAN, W.Va. — A large building in downtown Logan erupted in flames overnight and left firefighters from the Logan Fire Department battling well into the night.
“We had smoke showing from doors and windows and on the back side of the structure we had heavy fire,” said Logan Fire Department Fire Marshal Chris Hatfield.
The building was formerly the Fox Apartment Building on Stratton Street, but had been vacant in recent months. Report indicate the building was often occupied by transients. During more prosperous times for the community the ground floor of the building had been a thriving retail center and a couple of dozen apartments stood on the upper floors.
Situated along the narrow streets of Logan, the blaze stretch to the highest floors and left fire fighters with little margin for error.
“That’s one of the limitations, you don’t have much room,” Hatfield said. “We have very little area to fight the fire, and it causes some issues, but we adapt and overcome.”
The fire was also situated close to the nearby Ernie Sullins Apartments which is an occupied building. The Sullins Apartments incurred smoke and water damage and about 35 residents of that building may be displaced due to the damage.
The front of the building collapsed into the street below and crushed an truck parked in the front. The collapse has forced the closure of Stratton Street until further notice in Logan.
“There’s more that is going to have to come down. The initial collapse was in the rear of the building and about ten minutes after that there was a partial collapse in the front of the structure,” he said.
A cause for the fire is under investigation.