Published: August 27, 2009 11:10 pm      

8/28 - Commercial fire ruled suspicious

SHORT GAP, W. Va. — An early Thursday fire that extensively damaged a commercial building on state Route 28 in Mineral County is being investigated by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The 12:13 a.m. fire in a 50-by-100-foot pole building near Windover Hills caused extensive damage, according to Short Gap Volunteer Fire Chief Everett Metheny.

Metheny said the fire originated inside the building and has been determined to be suspicious in nature.

Numerous household items were inside the building owned by Richard Cox of Martinsburg. The loss was estimated at $200,000.

Numerous volunteer firefighters responded to the scene, including Short Gap, Fort Ashby, Patterson Creek, Wiley Ford, Ridgeley, Tri-Towns and Bowling Green companies. Units were there for more than two hours.

Anyone with information about the incident may call the West Virginia Arson Hotline at 1-800-233-3473.