The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 20, 2009

Fire engulfs building

Man suffers burns in blaze at auto shop

By Jackie Ayres and Michelle James

The owner of a Sophia auto shop suffered burns in a Friday morning fire that roared through the East Main Street business, officials said.

The Sophia City Volunteer Fire Department found AMS Oil engulfed in flames when it arrived on scene about 9:30 a.m.

A neighbor said he witnessed AMS owner Rowan Cook run into the burning building. When he came out, “he was burning,” said Gene Blake, who lives across the street.

Sophia City Lt. Robert McBride said Cook was flown from an area hospital to a Pittsburgh burn center for treatment of his injuries.

Blake said that after the building started to burn, “it started exploding. He had gas and oxygen tanks in there.”

Blake said he and his son-in-law were the first to notice the smoke.

“We were in the garage (behind his house) and we saw the smoke coming out,” he said. “Rowan was standing over there and my son-in-law asked him if he wanted a water hose or a fire extinguisher, but he didn’t even know it was burning.

“He turned around and that’s when he saw all the smoke and ran in,” he continued. “He came back out and fell down and he was burning.”

Neighbor Chris Mullens also witnessed the fire and said he ran from a nearby apartment building to offer assistance.

“I heard some commotion and went to put my shoes on and I heard a big explosion,” he said. “My instincts kicked in and I ran down. I knew people were in the building, so I ran in the front door.

“When I ran in they were bringing him (Cook) out.”

Blake said his son-in-law drove Cook to the hospital after he declined medical assistance at the scene.

“He was going to drive himself, but my son-in-law took him,” he said. “He called ... and said his face was burned real bad and his hand was burned and his back was red all over.”

Sophia City Fire Chief Jeff Pittman said the state fire marshal’s office has been called in to investigate.

The fire originated in the garage area of the building, Pittman said.

“We were told from one source he (Cook) was building a fire inside for heat,” he said. “The second source said a vehicle inside the garage caught on fire.”

Pittman said the building was “close to a total loss.”

Although the blaze was brought under control late Friday morning, witnesses reported traffic was rerouted through the area because debris was blocking the road.

Crews spent nearly seven hours on scene. The Sophia Area, Coal City and Lester fire departments assisted Sophia City on scene.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com; jayres@register-herald.com

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