PARIS, Ark.
--
The Main Street Cinema in downtown Paris caught fire Saturday evening.
Fire officials said the cause of the blaze is under investigation and that no one was inside when the fire broke.
"It gave the families some place to take their kids to see movies and have something to do on the weekends," Kathy Caughman said.
Orange flames glowed from inside the theater as several fire departments worked to prevent the fire from spreading.
Caughman's family saw the smoke and fire heading down Mount Magazine.
"A friend of mine had text me when we were coming down that the theater had caught on fire," she said.
Paris Fire Chief John Wells said his crews arrived at the scene within minutes of a 911 call.
He said the fire started on the east-side of the theater. Wells said the flames caused the roof to collapse. Wells said he also heard a sound that might have been an explosion coming from inside the cinema.
"We pretty much got it contained to the building it started in and have saved the building on both sides of it there," Wells said.
Witnesses said the theater owned by Randy Trustee had recently undergone renovations.
Caughman said the loss of the cinema is especially hard given the fact it opened several years ago after another theater in the area burned down.
"It's pretty sad," she said.
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