The Parkersburg Fire Department responded to a fire at 502 George St. at 8:20 pm Tuesday at the vacant City Iron & Metal building. Empire Builders were on the scene Wednesday tearing the structure down. (Photo by Art Smith)
PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Fire Department responded to a fire at 502 George St. at 8:20 pm Tuesday at the vacant City Iron & Metal building.
Parkersburg Fire Chief Jason Matthews said there was a fire that lasted 10 minutes before fire crews were able to put it out.
“They had heavy fire on the front side of the structure,” Matthews said, adding the fire was concentrated in an office area.
“We knew it was a vacant structure,” he said, adding there have been a number of overdoses reported at the structure as well as homeless living there with fires going.
“We have had previous experience with the building and its call history,” Matthews said.
The department responded with 15 firefighters and equipment.
No one was found inside. No injuries were reported.
The building was slated to be torn down by the city within a few days, Matthews said of it being part of 19 demolitions slated in the city.
They changed the order and Empire Builders came to the scene Wednesday to tear the structure down.
“They took it down today instead of waiting a couple of days,” Matthews said.
A cause has not been determined yet and remains under investigation.
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