The cause of a fire that engulfed a row of buildings on West Grand Avenue early Monday morning, destroying two structures and damaging a third, is still under investigation.
The Hot Springs Fire Department responded to the multiple structure fire in the 600 block of West Grand at around 12:20 a.m. Monday, after smoke was seen billowing from the rear of 628 W. Grand.
The structures at 628 and 632 W. Grand were fully engulfed in flames, while one at 624 W. Grand sustained slight damage during firefighters efforts to keep the fire from spreading to three other connected buildings on the block.
"Our guys had it blacked out pretty quick. They did a really good job considering the amount of fire they had," Hot Springs Fire Chief Ed Davis said Monday.
The fire involved a row of seven older buildings located east of the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Restaurant, 708 W. Grand. One property owner said his building was built before 1941.
An eyewitness said the fire began toward the back of the building at 628 W. Grand. By the time he noticed the smoke, he said he already heard sirens off in the distance. Moments after the fire department knocked down a door to gain entry, he noted two buildings were fully engulfed in flames.
The fire department fought the blaze until around 4:30 a.m., and an engine and small crew remained on scene afterward until they were able to excavate some debris and assess the interior of the buildings.
The properties at 632 and 626 W. Grand are owned by the Jean S. Lovell Trust. A trustee of the property told The Sentinel Record his building was unoccupied.
For many years, 632 W. Grand was a small apartment complex, following a short stint as a barber shop. After the former trustee of the property, Skipp Lovell, died, it was converted to a storage area and workshop.
Aside from structural damage, the trustees lost about $2,000 worth of miscellaneous tools used to manage their other properties. The building was reportedly uninsured.
According to witnesses at the scene, the property at 628 W. Grand was also vacant. The property owner had finished renovating the building just two weeks prior and was reportedly looking to sell it as an office space.
Local artist Carole Katchen owned an art studio located at 620 W. Grand, next door to the building that sustained minor damage.
"I didn't even know there was a fire until this morning when someone came to my door step telling me I needed to check on the studio," Katchen said.
The building and more than 50 years of artwork were left unharmed by the fire, she said, noting the only evidence she could find there was a fire next door was a faint smell of smoke and a bit of water in the garage area.
"I am very fortunate to have not suffered any damage from this fire. I feel so bad for my neighbors though; I know they had big plans for the building next door," she said.
Hot Springs fire marshals are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. An extension cord was found while they were digging out the scene, but Davis said it showed no signs it was linked to the origin of the blaze.
Local on 09/12/2017