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Julie Barnes talks with Pauls Valley firefighter Brian Black as her family’s former hotel goes up in flames early Thursday morning.
Fire’s cause on shady side
Suspicious is the term being used to describe a fire that struck a historic building in downtown Pauls Valley and scorched a neighboring furniture store early Thursday morning.
Pauls Valley Fire Chief Joe Eddy believes someone went into the long-vacant Alvis Hotel building at the corner of Paul and Santa Fe streets and set a fire, either by accident or on purpose.
“One of two things happened. It was either a transient in there who had a bucket fire or someone went in there and lit it,” Eddy said. “All we know is it started in the hotel.”
The large building suffered catastrophic damages and was essentially gutted from the fire that authorities were called to shortly before 6 a.m.
Suspicion about the fire’s cause comes from a fence leading to a small alley located at the back of the hotel structure, Eddy said.
“It’s my understanding that fence was found cut open and the back door to the hotel kicked in,” he said.
The hotel was not the only concern for firefighters as the blaze spread next door to the second floor of Yeatts Home Furnishings. There the fire damage was described as minimal, although the fire chief said it “burned through the ceiling of the showroom.”
Water and smoke damage to both floors of the Yeatts building was reported as crews spent some time helping to haul furniture out of the store and onto the Paul Avenue sidewalk.
One of those looking on as firefighters fought to contain the blaze was Julie Barnes.
“My mother bought the old hotel back in the early ’70s,” Barnes said.
“Bob Yeatts and I had an offer to sell both buildings two years ago but that fell through after the recession set in,” she said. “I hated to see the hotel burning but my real concern was for Bob and how he would deal with all this.”
For several hours Thursday morning, part of downtown Pauls Valley took on a desolate appearace as large sections were blocked off from traffic.
Firefighters remained at the scene for hours to make sure the fire didn’t rekindle, although some crews were called out early in the afternoon to a structure fire near Paoli.
Although damage was extensive, Eddy described the pre-fire condition of the hotel as poor.
“It was in bad shape. I would call it condemned,” he said.
The chief added it wasn’t his first trip to a fire at the Alvis site.
“This is my fourth time to work the Alvis since I’ve been here,” Eddy said. He’s been with the department since 1986.
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- Obituaries
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Joseph Floyd Bell
Joseph Floyd Bell, 90, of Lindsay passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 at Norman Veteran's Center in Norman.
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Bill Burgess
Bill Burgess, 66, of Pauls Valley was born Jan. 30, 1944 in Tuckerman, Ark., to John T. and Virginia (Hamilton) Burgess and passed away Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010.
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Janice Karen Fisher
Janice Karen Fisher, 59, was born Oct. 2, 1950 in Tecumseh, Okla., and entered into eternal life on Aug. 29, 2010.
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Sondra Shumate Copeland
Sondra Shumate Copeland of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma was born to Carl A. and Juel (Harkreader) Shumate, Jr. on February 11, 1934 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and passed from this life on August 28, 2010 in Pauls Valley at the age of 76 years.
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Tommie Wayne Estes Sr.
Tommie Wayne Estes Sr., a resident of Wynnewood, was born January 15, 1938 in Lula, Oklahoma to Hazel Lucille (Treas) and Joel Estes. He passed away August 28, 2010 at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma at the age of 72 years, 7 months and 13 days.
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Joseph Floyd Bell
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TODAY'S FRONT PAGE
Now you can view and download the Daily Democrat right to your desktop on the day the paper is published. Click here to view today's front page and get more information on the Daily Democrat's E-Edition.
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- Letters to the Editor
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In Broadband agreement
To the Editor:
As a business owner and legislator, I’ve learned that the best government is the kind that doesn’t get in the way when private companies choose to invest in our state to make our lives better and more productive. - Questions about HB 2780 and HB 2656
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In Broadband agreement
