A massive fire erupted early Friday morning at the former Virginia Intermont College campus on Moore Street in Bristol, Virginia. As thick smoke billowed from the site, a large emergency response was triggered. However, the cause of the fire and any potential fatalities remain unclear.
Main Building Collapses
The fire quickly spread, severely damaging the main building, which collapsed shortly after 2 AM. Local residents and reporters shared videos on social media, highlighting the scale of the blaze.
Emergency Crews Mobilized
In light of the fire’s intensity, Councilman Neal Osborne reported that firefighters from surrounding areas had been called in to help. He described the situation as a “full inferno,” saying, “This is a tragedy for our city.”
Frustration Over Property Management
Osborne also voiced his frustration with the owners of the property. He explained that the city had repeatedly urged them to take action to secure the site, but their calls had been ignored. “They will have to answer for this, in my mind. They will answer for why this property was not secured, why they did not take proactive steps to prevent this from happening,” Osborne stated.
Previous Incidents at the Campus
This fire is not the first at the site. Earlier this year, the Bristol Virginia Fire Department responded to a blaze in the former college library. Additionally, the fire chief mentioned that several fires had occurred at the campus in the past year. “We’ve had multiple fires up here. We’ve had a call up here several months ago where a subject was shot,” he added.