An early morning fire in Bob White is under investigation.

The fire occurred at

approximately 3 a.m., in a building that was used as both a grocery store and the small community’s post office.

Officials report that the fire has made the building completely inhabitable. The building that was once home to A&J Grocery is now a gutted structure with partially-collapsed roof.

The Van, Danville and Warton-Barrett fire departments all responded to the call and worked to distinguish the flames. There were no reported injuries and no one was inside the building at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Though initial reports indicated that the fire may have started in the kitchen area of the grocery store, the Coal Valley News has learned that the main power line running into the building may have started the fire.

This recent fire comes on the heels of an August fire at Racine, where the former Racine Post Office rapidly became engulfed in flames.

The building, formerly a post office, was until recently an apartment building.

Terry and Maggie Thomas, and their children, lost everything in the blaze.

A volunteer firefighter who was driving past the building in the early morning hours spotted the smoke coming from the structure and called for assistance.

Units from the Racine and Marmet Fire Departments responded to that fire.

In August, authorities said they believed the fire at the former Racine Post Office was suspicious. Authorities have not commented on whether they believe the two fires could be linked.

The West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate.