
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, September 19, 1994                   TAG: 9409220020
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRE TERMED SUSPICIOUS

Roanoke fire officials Sunday were still investigating a Saturday morning fire at a Shenandoah Avenue office warehouse complex. The complex houses a company that helps people clean up after fires.

"It's a real suspicious fire," said District Fire Chief Garry Basham.

Basham would not elaborate on the circumstances of the fire but said it occurred around 4:50 a.m. and originated in the lounge area of First General Services of Roanoke at 3709 Shenandoah Ave. The fire was contained in about 15 minutes, Basham said.

He said no one was injured in the blaze, but damage totaled about $25,000.

First General Services is part of a national network of contractors who work for insurance companies, repairing homes damaged by fire and other causes.

Firemen also battled a fire Sunday at a Roanoke Housing Development apartment on Hunt Avenue started by children playing with matches, according to Basham.

Basham said the fire was reported around 2:25 p.m. and was contained in about 5 minutes. The flames never made it out of the bedroom in which they originated, he said. Damages to the apartment totaled about $5,000.

by CNB