MOUNTAIN CITIZEN STAFF

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A fire that destroyed a historic business in Williamson Monday is considered suspicious.

The Williamson Fire Department was dispatched to a fully involved fire at the old Mingo Lime and Lumber Company on West Second Avenue near the Serenity Point Rehabilitation building, formally the Sycamore Inn.

Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting through the roof of the old building, which had not been used for several years.

It took about an hour to bring the blaze under control. Most of the aging structure collapsed.

Videos on social media taken by spectators show the brick walls collapsing, making it dangerous for firefighters.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal was on the scene investigating.

Reportedly, law enforcement had chased out homeless squatters from the building recently, including Sunday night. It is suspected one of those transients may have been to blame for the fire.

There were no utilities hooked to the building. Nobody was injured in the fire.

The Chattaroy Volunteer Fire Department also responded and provided mutual aid to Williamson on the call.

Flames and smoke were visible in a wide area around the county seat of Mingo County.