Late night blaze burns old Pannell Pontiac building to the ground

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Seven alarm fire destroys long time Louisa car business;

Fire departments manage to save skating rink 10 feet away...

LOUISA, Ky.  (Wednesday, June 20, 2012) --Firefighters from seven departments fought an early morning blaze in Louisa last night. The fire started after 2 a.m. at Dave's Auto Mart on South Pocahontas Street. Although it is not known what actually started the inferno, witnesses say they heard loud explosions and the building was fully engulfed within minutes.

Dave Muncy owned the burned out building where he operated Dave's Auto Sales.The building was originally known as Pannell Pontiac back in the 1970's and 80's before housing several different businesses, then becoming Dave's Auto Sales several years ago. The business was owned by David Muncy. The fire also spread doing some damage to the nearby Southside Roller Rink but most of the heavy damage was contained within the auto store and garage that sat below the hill from the store.

Several cars that were being worked on were still in the garage bay area when the fire started and nine cars on the lot were lost.

Firefighters from Cannonsburg, both stations in Louisa, Fallsburg, Cherryville,Lowmansville and neighboring Fort Gay, W.Va. responded to the blaze along with Harold Slone, Emergency Management Coordinator and his Command Post. AEP worker Dwayne West was also called to the site to deal with electric lines and service in the area.

(UPDATE: The Lazer has learned that the Big Sandy VFD also responded and played a big part in helping save the Roller rink.)

Slone said HAZMAT officials wee called it because of the amount of oil burning. The Lazer had an unofficial report two hours ago that some of the oil had leaked into the creek leading to the Big Sandy River but no official release has been sent out as yet.

The blaze also damaged a wrecker that Muncy had parked nearby the store and it is not certain whether it effected several vehicles that he had for sale in a lot next to the store.

See additional release from the DES staff on main page

The fire caught up again the following day (Wednesday) with flames shooting into the sky but was quicky extinguished by LVPD.

On the scene fire photos by Roberta Blevins

Fort Gay and Cherryville were two of the six fire departments called in by LVFD chief Eddie Preston to help fight the blaze which threatened the neighborhood

The day after...The day after...

LVFD assistant chief Jeff Kinser