Fire destroys building in Bluefield, Va.
May 20—BLUEFIELD — Firefighters had to be wary of intense heat and collapsing walls Monday evening as fire destroyed a building alongside the old Thistle Foundry in Bluefield, Va.
Neighbors noticed the fire near the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Grant Street around 5:45 p.m. David Woods of Dudley Street said he first saw smoke at the building's rear, but then there appeared to be an explosion and soon the building's second floor was burning.
The Bluefield, Va. Fire Department and the Bluefield Fire Department were dispatched along with the Abbs Valley-Boissevain Volunteer Fire Department. Tazewell County EMS also responded and the Bluefield, Va. Police Department blocked off Virginia Avenue.
The old Thistle Foundry was purchased by the town of Bluefield, Va. and it was unoccupied, said Town Manager Andrew Hanson, who was at the scene Monday with the firefighters and other first responders. Intense heat could be felt from across Virginia Avenue. The roof soon collapsed along with the walls, but the walls did not fall into the street.
Sections of the old foundry were scheduled for demolition. The remaining sections were going to be remodeled and used for economic development, "blank canvases" for new businesses, Hanson said. Because a demolition was scheduled, utilities including electricity, gas and water had been turned off.
The main goal was to save surrounding buildings and this was accomplished, Hanson said. He also thanked all the first responders for their work.
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
