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PARSONS -- The Shop N' Save Express grocery store in Parsons remained closed on Thursday after a fire broke out inside the business Wednesday evening.
Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin White told The Inter-Mountain that at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, calls came in about a fire at the business, located on D and W Lane.
"When we pulled in there was smoke billowing out of the doors," White said. "It was pretty dense smoke and you couldn't see anything. At first we were unsure about how big the fire actually was."
White said it took firefighters more than two hours to extinguish the blaze. After inspection, it appeared that the bulk of the damage was done to the merchandise in the store.
"Structural-wise. there's probably minimal damage," White said. "Inventory-wise, there's a lot of damage due to smoke and water. "
Fire departments from Davis-Thomas, Canaan Valley and Leading Creek assisted in fighting the blaze.
"Due to the structure and it being a retail store, we called for assistance," White said. "It's a large building, probably 23,000 square feet…Thank goodness, the sprinkler system worked in the area where the fire was. It was in a produce cooler and the sprinkler system did keep the fire in check until we were able to get to the location and get it extinguished."
Employees were working at Shop N' Save at the time of the fire. The store remained closed on Thursday and it is unclear when it will reopen, White said.
"The store was open when the fire started and the employees who were working did a good job of getting themselves and everyone else out," said White. "They don't know when they are going to reopen, but I would say it won't be for several days."
White said Shop N' Save officials are still working on determining how much damage was done by the fire. The state fire marshal's office was called in to investigate the blaze.
"They're still working on what is salvageable and what's not," White said. "They are trying to get the store cleaned up and get the items out that are not salvageable."
The City of Parsons posted a public notice on social media Thursday to offer assistance to anyone needing groceries.
The post, credited to City Administrator Agnes Arnold, said, "Anyone concerned with the inability to access or get groceries during the temporary closure of the Parsons Shop N' Save Express is urged to contact our business office at 304-478-2311. We are willing to assist those in need during this time. We are thankful that no one was injured and are here to support the reopening process."