WELCH, W.Va. — Firefighters in the McDowell County town of Welch are battling a blaze which broke out in the early morning hours.
The fire was first reported around 2:40 a.m. Friday in an abandoned apartment building. Several floors of the structure were engulfed in flames when fire crews rolled up on the scene.
The building is located behind the McDowell County Courthouse on both Court Street and Howard Street. During the initial stages at least six fire crews were there with more than 15 fire trucks trying to douse the flames.
David Timothy Buss lives across the street and said he didn’t even notice the fire until more than an hour after fire crews had responded.
“I was working here at home and was finally getting ready for bed about 4. I went into my bathroom and wondered why everything was so lit up outside. I went out and I saw this 30 foot thing of fire jumping off the top of this building,” he said.
The fire is under control, but may take several days of dousing hotspots. Crews have not indicated if they’ll have to raze the building immediately due to structural issues.
A cause for the fire is under investigation and there is no word of any injuries.