Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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  • The fire at the Matoaka Laundry on Barger Street rekindled at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, according to Assistant Chief John Sommers with the Matoaka Fire Department. Staff photo by Jon Bolt

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February 3, 2012

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Matoaka Laundry blaze rekindles

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

MATOAKA — Fire departments are returning to Matoaka after a rekindle at a blaze in which eight fire departments battled for seven hours Friday morning.

The fire at the Matoaka Laundry on Barger Street rekindled at approximately 2 p.m., according to Assistant Chief John Sommers with the Matoaka Fire Department. Sommers said fire officials pumped more than 600,000 gallons of water onto the blaze.

Matoaka Fire Department remained on the scene from the time of the initial call. Due to the rekindle, the East River Volunteer Fire Department, Athens Fire Department, Oakvale Volunteer Fire Department, and Green Valley-Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department were called back to the scene.

The back wall of the building began to crumble due to the blaze, endangering a home directly behind the building. Sommers said firefighters were stationed near the wall to prevent damage. Tanker trucks had to be brought in because there was not enough water remaining the town of Matoaka to combat the fire.

For more on this story and other news, see Saturday’s Daily Telegraph or log on to bdtonline.com.

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