Published: September 25, 2009 10:47 am      

Fire’s cause on shady side

Suspicious is the term being used to describe a fire that struck a historic building in downtown Pauls Valley and scorched a neighboring furniture store early Thursday morning.

Pauls Valley Fire Chief Joe Eddy believes someone went into the long-vacant Alvis Hotel building at the corner of Paul and Santa Fe streets and set a fire, either by accident or on purpose.

“One of two things happened. It was either a transient in there who had a bucket fire or someone went in there and lit it,” Eddy said. “All we know is it started in the hotel.”

The large building suffered catastrophic damages and was essentially gutted from the fire that authorities were called to shortly before 6 a.m.

Suspicion about the fire’s cause comes from a fence leading to a small alley located at the back of the hotel structure, Eddy said.

“It’s my understanding that fence was found cut open and the back door to the hotel kicked in,” he said.

The hotel was not the only concern for firefighters as the blaze spread next door to the second floor of Yeatts Home Furnishings. There the fire damage was described as minimal, although the fire chief said it “burned through the ceiling of the showroom.”

Water and smoke damage to both floors of the Yeatts building was reported as crews spent some time helping to haul furniture out of the store and onto the Paul Avenue sidewalk.

One of those looking on as firefighters fought to contain the blaze was Julie Barnes.

“My mother bought the old hotel back in the early ’70s,” Barnes said.

“Bob Yeatts and I had an offer to sell both buildings two years ago but that fell through after the recession set in,” she said. “I hated to see the hotel burning but my real concern was for Bob and how he would deal with all this.”

For several hours Thursday morning, part of downtown Pauls Valley took on a desolate appearace as large sections were blocked off from traffic.

Firefighters remained at the scene for hours to make sure the fire didn’t rekindle, although some crews were called out early in the afternoon to a structure fire near Paoli.

Although damage was extensive, Eddy described the pre-fire condition of the hotel as poor.

“It was in bad shape. I would call it condemned,” he said.

The chief added it wasn’t his first trip to a fire at the Alvis site.

“This is my fourth time to work the Alvis since I’ve been here,” Eddy said. He’s been with the department since 1986.