TENNERTON – No one suffered injuries, but the Buckhannon Kroger will be closed “for some time” following an early morning electrical fire Wednesday that resulted in smoke wafting throughout the entire grocery store.
The fire originated at an electrical panel and generator inside the store in an employee-only area roughly behind the deli area, career Firefighter First Class Tanner Smith said later Wednesday morning.
The BFD was dispatched at 6:04 a.m. and arrived five minutes later, Smith said.
Since Kroger doesn’t open until 7 a.m., no customers were inside at the time, but there were employees present when it started.
“They located it first and called 911,” Smith said. “They were able to get out and no one was injured.”
Smith said the fire was under control within about 20 minutes.
“All the fire damage was contained to that area (the employee-only area behind the deli), but there was smoke throughout the store,” Smith added.
Although the fire isn’t thought to be suspicious, the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office has been contacted to conduct an investigation, he added.
Melissa Eads, a Kroger spokesperson with the corporate office, said she was unsure of exactly how long the store’s doors will be shut.
“The store is definitely going to be closed for some time, but we don’t have an exact reopening date,” Eads said Wednesday. “We just know it will be for some time.”
In the meantime, Eads said Kroger plans to send a mobile pharmacy trailer to the Kroger parking lot within the next three to five days.
“We’re going to send that mobile pharmacy to the area so we can continue to take care of our pharmacy customers, and that should be on site within the next three to five days,” Eads said.
In addition, the corporate office is working on placing Buckhannon Kroger associates and employees at other locations in the interim so they can continue to work.
“We’re placing associates at other locations while this one is under repair,” Eads said.
To find other nearby Kroger locations, in addition to Elkins and Bridgeport, click here.
In addition to the BFD, the Elkins Fire Department, Weston Fire Department, Washington District Volunteer Fire Company, Adrian Volunteer Fire Department and Warren District Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene. Close to 30 firefighters responded in total, Smith said.
