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Nov. 28--Fire destroyed a laundry business Monday morning on Copley Road in West Akron.
Akron Fire Capt. Al Bragg said the fire, reported at 2:26 a.m., resulted in a total loss to the Laundry King building and its contents at 944 Copley Road.
He said when firefighters arrived on the scene of the fire on the north side of Copley between Noah and Storer avenues, flames were leaping from the roof of the one-story structure.
Bragg said initial damage estimates are $500,000 but the loss could ultimately be even higher.
He said employees of the laundry told fire investigators they smelled something unusual Sunday evening.
"If you ever smell something unusual in a business or a home, it doesn't hurt to call us out," Bragg said. "We have thermal imaging cameras which can find hot spots and which can prevent this type of a thing from happening and save someone's life."
No one was hurt in fighting the fire, Bragg said. He said the blaze was an accident and that the direct cause is unknown.
Firefighters were still on the scene at about 8 a.m., Bragg said, but the fire was under control about a half-hour after crews arrived.
He said the firefighters on the scene did an excellent job of protecting buildings to the east and west of the burning building.
