STATESVILLE, N.C. — No one was hurt after a large fire broke out at a building in downtown Statesville on Tuesday morning, according to the Statesville Fire Department.
Firefighters from multiple departments worked to put out the fire that broke out around 2:13 a.m. on West Broad and Center Street. By around 5 a.m., the fire was mostly put out.
A crew was responding to a medical call when they noticed smoke in the area.
They radioed dispatch and firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the Statesville theater where the roof collapsed.
For nearly three hours, firefighters in Statesville worked to bring the fire under control.
Resident Dustin Allen lives across the street and took a video from his roof as flames spread to two nearby businesses.
“They jumped on it very quickly,” Allen said. “Thank God they were there when they were or it would have been the whole block, probably.”
About 75 firefighters responded, said Glenn Kurfees, the deputy chief at the Mooresville Fire Department.
“This is what we always call our ‘dreaded fire’ in the firehouse,” Kurfees said. “We talk about it for years and hope it never happens. When you get into these size buildings, and you don’t know how they’ve been remodeled. They’ve been cut up. The second floor is mostly storage.”
The fire spread to a Merrill Lynch office and GG’s Art Frames and Gifts, which has been in downtown Statesville for more than 50 years.
The owner of GG’s Art Frames and Gifts said she woke up to a call that her store was on fire.
“I’m in shock because I haven’t seen the building yet,” Gloria Hager said. “I know two floors are gone and the roof is gone. I’m just thankful no one is hurt.”
The community immediately jumped into help after the fire.
“(I) love this community and am so grateful to live here and today has already been such an outpouring of love,” Hager said.
[ ALSO READ: Family displaced after large fire tears through northwest Charlotte home ]
Officials said the investigation into how the fire started has started. Businesses such as Food Lion have brought food and water to the firefighters.
Due to the fire’s close proximity, the American Renaissance School will be closed for the day. School officials said there is no damage to the building.
“It just breaks my heart,” said Patty Summers, who has a granddaughter that attends the school. “I just want to cry because this is my town.”
The state fire marshal and the SBI are assisting with the investigation into how the fire started, which could take several days.
(WATCH BELOW: Fire caused $120,000 in damage to Concord home, officials say)
This browser does not support the video element.