Clean up efforts begin after local shop catches fire

On any given day, Morgantown Street is a quiet area with cars passing by sparingly.

However, around 8 Monday night, as flames burst out of the Ultra Body Repair Shop the quiet street was full of sirens.

"I actually talked to a couple of the people this morning, you know, made sure everything was ok," said Ethan Beeghly, the owner of Bruceton Auto and friend of the Ultra Body Repair Shop owner.

Beeghly's shop is right down the street and he said he found out about the fire via Facebook.

5 News spoke with the owner who said the fire started on the second floor of the shop. While many customers' cars were inside at the time each of them made it out unscathed.

"There are just so many things involved with body shops, a lot of tools. I doubt they're going to ask for help, but I would be willing to help," said Beeghly.

Beeghly told 5 News he's grown up with several people who work at the shop and says small town comradery is evident when people join in to help in times of tragedy.

"A lot of people in town would [help]. You gain a lot of friendships."

Many people showed up to the shop, Tuesday, to help in clean up efforts.

The owner said he didn't want to go on camera, but he says the shop has been open for years and he does plan to open back up when when the time is right.

"The guys might need help. A lot of times they don't want to travel 40 miles to another job and I'm not saying I can help a lot, but I'd help any way I could. Store things or have them work part-time [here]," said Beeghly.

Beeghly says many of the buildings are old in the area and if his shop were to catch fire there would be nothing left.

"You don't wish it on anybody. If this place would go up I don't know what I would do. You don't want something to happen to another business."

Beeghly says he's a neighbor simply helping another neighbor.

"I just hope everyone's alright and if they need anything they know where to come."

The Bruceton Mills Volunteer Fire Department Chief says the West Virginia State Fire Marshal is investigating what started the fire.