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Updated: 2:02 PM Nov 14, 2009
Fire Marshals Investigating Suspicious Fires at Smoke Hole Caverns
PETERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) The West Virginia fire marshal's office is investigating two suspicious blazes at the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant.
Posted: 11:47 AM Nov 13, 2009 |
Courtesy: Jean Warner
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8 Comments 
Photos 
The state fire marshal's office is investigating two suspicious blazes at the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant.
The gift shop had billed itself as West Virginia's largest but is now a pile of ash and debris.
Petersburg Fire Chief Tad Ours calls the fires, which occurred Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, "very suspicious."
Smoke Hole Caverns is a popular tourist attraction on Route 55 between Seneca Rocks and Petersburg.
Ours says the first fire started near the restaurant, and crews were called back to the scene about six hours after they left late Tuesday night.
He says no one was in the building at the time.
Smoke Hole's Website says cavern tours are operating normally, and its cabins and motel remain open.
©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Latest Comments
No matter what happened, it's a shame. This was one of my favorite spots to visit as a kid, and it's sad to see it burn down. Does anyone know if there are any plans to rebuild?
This is so unbelievable. This fire was uncalled for and I pray that whoever did this will come forward or that the law will find the person responsible. Stop and think that if the weather had not have cooperated -there may have been more lost than just the gift shop building. There are homes that neighbor the gift shop that could have been lost, not to mention the woodland surrounding the gift shop. Thank the Good Lord above for watching out for the "neighbors". To add to Matt's comment to Joe - I remember the 1985 flood and the waters did get into the gift shop and merchandise was lost. Joe, your comment is not amusing at all...
Actually, after the flood of '85 I spent 2 weeks helping the farmers and homeowners on the Potomac clean up, although it was south of Smoke Hole between Franklin and Monterey. And having had a business in Petersburg I know all too well about how the "Ol' Boy" network there rules things. Perhaps I shouldn't have made the accusation that it was started but the article does call it suspicious. All I'm saying is it wouldn't surprise me if some grown-ups were playing with matches.
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