PIQUA — Several businesses will be impacted after a fire destroyed a building in Miami County late Tuesday night.
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The fire was reported at the 100 block of E High Street in Piqua after 11 p.m.
A 911 caller told dispatchers about the fire, saying the building looked to be “engulfed.”
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>>PHOTOS: Firefighters respond to business fire in Downtown Piqua
As firefighters actively fought the flames, they had several challenges.
“Unfortunately, just because of the way the fire is situated in the attic space, it’s very difficult to get to fire itself,” Piqua Fire Chief Lee Adams told News Center 7.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the fire caused around $500,000 worth of damage. Adams also said he believed the building was a total loss.
“There may be as many as five different suites in the building. There’s been a lot of different businesses in and out of that building over the last several years, so a lot of businesses affected,” said Adams.
News Center 7 learned that the building was currently home to two businesses, whose owners are devastated by the damage. One owner said she didn’t know what she was going to do.
“I don’t feel like it’s reality,” Megan Booher, owner of MB Aesthetics, said. “No one ever wants to see something they put their blood, sweat, and tears in just get destroyed in a matter of hours.”
Another woman who was there while the flames were still active said she watched as business owners saw the damage for the first time.
“They’re heartbroken,” Baylee Leffel said. “I know they are.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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