ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512270090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press
A fire early Monday destroyed an eight-story building near the James River and damaged neighboring businesses.
The former industrial building, previously occupied by the Lukens pharmaceutical company, was being transformed into apartments and artists' studios. None of the six people who had apartments at the building was home when the fire occurred.
Other buildings damaged by the blaze were Blue Ridge Anesthesia and Critical Care and a car restoration business.
Fire officials have not determined the cause of the blaze.
``We are aware of certain circumstances that I would term suspicious,'' said Deputy Fire Marshal John Jennings. He declined to elaborate.
Two firefighters were injured while putting out the fire. One broke his foot in several places, and the other was hit by a stream of water from a hose. Both were treated at Lynchburg General Hospital and released.
B.J. Buchanan, whose apartment overlooks the Lukens building, said she saw 30-foot flames coming from the building at 5:30 a.m.
``It was gone in 45 minutes,'' Buchanan said. ``It was unbelievable.''
When two sides of the building collapsed, firefighters were able to spray water directly on the fire. That helped keep the fire from spreading, according to fire department Cmdr. Les Puckett.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB