CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. --
A massive fire swept through downtown Crystal Springs early Monday morning, fire officials said.
Fire officials said it started just before 1 a.m. at a business on Jackson Street and eventually spread to two other buildings -- completely destroying all three businesses.
There was an apartment on top of one the buildings, but firefighters said everyone got out safely and there were no injuries.
"This is pretty traumatic, losing three businesses in downtown Crystal Springs," Fire Coordinator Randle Drane said.
"It's just hard to imagine something like that," resident Anne Williams said. "Part of Hazlehurst burned down in 1979 when I was little, and when I walked up, I remembered when I was 9-years-old."
The fire knocked out power and water service in downtown Crystal Springs, fire officials said. Crystal Springs elementary, middle and high school were all closed on Monday because of the outages, school officials said. Classes are expected to resume on Tuesday.
Firefighters aren't sure what started the fire, but believe it may have been sparked by power lines. An investigation is under way.
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