Fire destroys local auto shop - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

ATHENS, W. Va (WVVA)-- A local business, Mike's Collision Repair," is a total loss after a fire Sunday morning.

It happened around 9:30 AM on Gardener Road, three miles off Interstate 77.

Bluestone Valley Fire Chief Tim Farley told WVVA Sunday that although the cause of the fire is unknown, they think it was a chimney fire.

"We are pretty sure the chimney started it. It spread into the building," said Farley, "[which] had a metal roof on top that held in heat and it just spread really quickly."

The shop lost everything, including the expensive tools and even some cars the owner was restoring. One of those cars was a Shelby Mustang.

Fire crews gave WVVA a $300,000 damage estimate.

The only thing the family was able to fully recover from their business was a photo of their grandson.

WVVA spoke with the business owner off-camera, and he said he doesn't know what his plans are to recover from this. Right now he, some family and some helpers are just focusing on cleaning up after the blaze.