Newport
Newport Deputy Fire Chief David McCrillis said on Monday that the destruction at the scene was just too extensive to conclude what sparked the fire at about 9:15 a.m. on Friday.
That could change if there is additional information, he noted.
“The building has collapsed, so it is very difficult to tell,” McCrillis said.
On Friday morning, area firefighters worked to keep the fire from spreading to the retail store as well as several other nearby buildings on the Route 11/103 property.
The fire destroyed a large storage building that contained flooring and countertop materials and damaged the nearby window and door showroom.
Because of the types of materials in the storage building, the fire burned so hot that it melted several of the light covers on the back of a Newport fire truck. That truck was the first to arrive on scene.
McCrillis estimated the heat caused about $2,000 worth of damage to the truck, which will be paid for through insurance.
The truck is still in operation.
Upon arrival, the driver of the truck parked in between the store and the burning building, and the crew immediately started work on the fire.
“This fire grew so quickly,” McCrillis said.
The blaze became so intense that ambulance personnel transported a Newport firefighter to the hospital for precautionary reasons. That individual has since been released and has returned to work, McCrillis said.
Attempts to reach LaValley President and owner Larry Huot, as well as store manager, Greg Stout, on Monday were unsuccessful.
The Newport store seemingly hasn’t skipped a beat since the fire.
The parking lot was crowded with customers on Monday morning. Barricades and caution tape lined the pile of debris where the storage building once sat.
The smashed windows on the side of the retail store closest to where the fire broke out have since been boarded up.
A large painted sign out front kept LaValley’s message clear: “We Are Open. Big Thank You Fire Depts.”
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.