Fire Damages Greenbrier, West Virginia Armory

A fire ripped through the center building of the nearly completed $8.9 million Greenbrier National Guard Armory, causing extensive damage to the roof and interior.

Jan. 28, 2005

MAXWELTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A fire ripped through the center building of the nearly completed $8.9 million Greenbrier National Guard Armory, causing extensive damage to the roof and interior.

Construction workers were evacuated from the site, and no injuries were reported in Thursday's fire, Lewisburg Fire Chief Wayne Pennington said.

``At this time we believe a spark from a welding torch may have started the fire,'' Pennington said. ``Construction workers were welding on the sub-deck and possibly ignited some foam insulation or plywood.''

No cost estimate was immediately assessed.

The fire occurred in an area designated for future office space to house 105 members of Company C of the 201st Field Artillery Battalion, currently based in Ronceverte and Hinton.

The 40,482-square-foot facility is being built off U.S. Route 219 across from the Greenbrier Valley Airport.