by Andre A. Rodriguez, ARODRIGUEZ@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published August 6, 2007 12:15 am


SPRUCE PINE — Downtown Spruce Pine business owners are reeling from a massive fire over the weekend that destroyed at least 10 downtown businesses.

Fire crews were still mopping up from a fire that destroyed one building early Saturday on Oak Avenue when a call went out about 8 p.m. Saturday about a fire on Locust Street, Spruce Pine Fire Department Chief David Hughes said.


Firetrucks stretched from one end of the block to the other as crews battled the blaze in the 100 block of Locust for about 10 hours. Departments from Avery, Yancy and McDowell counties, as well as every department in Mitchell County, responded to the scene.

An early morning fire destroyed three businesses and a church along Oak Street. The blaze broke out between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday in a three-story brick structure.

It resulted in a total loss of Miller Insurance, attorney Brian Buchanan’s law office, Keen Enterprises and a church, according to published reports.

A new fire in downtown Spruce Pine broke out after midnight Sunday.

Emergency workers blocked off most of downtown and asked residents to stay out of the area until further notice. Nearby emergency services are traveling to Spruce Pine to help firefighters.