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Beckley, W.Va. – Flames and smoke from a grease fire damaged the Beckley Travel Plaza near the West Virginia Turnpike in Raleigh County early Friday morning.
The fire, which was reported at 6:26 a.m., started inside a Burger King restaurant. Firefighters said the fire had spread to the roof of the commuter plaza, but not the roof.
“There was a grease fire in the Burger King kitchen, but in the process some of it spread to the ceiling. That caused a little more damage, but the fire suppression system was able to put it out,” Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeff Miller said.
Firefighters from five fire departments, four from Raleigh County and one from Fayette County, responded to the scene and had the fire under control within forty minutes.
No one was injured in the fire. Firefighters said the sprinkler system is working. The state fire marshal was on the scene Friday morning to investigate the fire.
“The fire marshal determined through preliminary investigation that the fire started in the Burger King kitchen area and activated the hood extinguishing system and fire extinguisher system in time to assist in extinguishing the fire,” he said.
The travel plaza, which includes several restaurants, a convenience store and restrooms, is currently closed. Miller said the convenience store location will be open through the end of Friday, while the restaurant area may be closed for the weekend, but should reopen soon.
“We think the full facility could be open as early as next week,” Miller said.
The gas station near the commuter plaza remains open. Tamarack is open above the Journey Square.
Beckley Travel Plaza, along with Bluestone Travel Plaza in Mercer County, is slated to be rebuilt starting next year under plans recently approved by the West Virginia Parkways Authority. Miller said the fire will have no effect on the plan.
“Feb. 1 is the expected closure of this facility and I don’t think this will affect anything or require a more permanent closure until then,” he said.
Metro News reporter Keith Thompson of WJLS Radio was on the scene and contributed to this story.
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