The Shadow
A barn owned by Greenway’s Real Estate and Auction Inc. in the Intervale section of Alleghany County was de-stroyed by fire Saturday night.
The 19,000 square-foot-building, located at 1907 Evergreen Dr. in Intervale, was fully involved when firefighters arrived at the scene, Covington Fire Chief Wes Walker said.
The barn and its contents had an estimated value of $1.3 million. No foul play is suspected. A Virginia State Police investigation into the cause of the blaze continues.
The fire was initially reported to the Covington E-911 center at 5:38 p.m. Saturday. The Covington Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Dunlap, Falling Spring and Dunlap fire departments. Approximately 80 area firefighters and rescue squad personnel were involved in fighting the blaze.
“When we first arrived, the fire was through the roof and the building was fully involved,” Walker said this morning.
Firefighters decided to attack the blaze from the exterior of the building and were hampered by a Dominion Power electrical line that was down near the building. Firefighters also worked to keep the fire from spreading to a private residence near the barn.
“The fire was so hot, you could feel the heat all the way up on Route 220,” Walker said.
Firefighters utilized a nearby hydrant and additional water was shuttled in from the city’s fire training grounds in Dry Run. Trucks shuttling water caused icy conditions on Route 220 and a stretch of road in Intervale leading to the barn. The Virginia Department of Transportation at the Covington Department of Public Works were called to treat the icy roadways.
Virginia State Police and the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office provided traffic control and assistance was also provided at the scene by the Covington and Falling Spring rescue squads.
Walker said cold temperatures at the scene of the fire hampered firefighters with freezing water making conditions slippery.
“Thankfully, nobody was injured. We had people slipping all over the place,” he said.
The barn was used to store auction items, antiques and a variety of equipment owned by Greenway’s. A portion of the barn was used as a workshop area. The contents were valued at $500,000 and the building, $800,000.
Covington firefighters re-returned from the scene at 2 a.m. Sunday and returned at 9 a.m. to meet with a Virginia State Police fire investigator.
“The investigation continues,” Walker said. “No foul play is suspected. I’ve already heard some pretty wild rumors, but none of them are true.”
Walker commended the Covington Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary, the Falling Spring Ladies Auxiliary and the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad Auxiliary for providing food and drinks at the scene.
He also cited the Hot Springs and White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., fire departments for providing stand-by support to area fire departments.
