Hot Springs restaurants damaged in fire

HOT SPRINGS, Va. (WDBJ) - A building in downtown Hot Springs with two restaurants and apartment units is badly damaged after a fire early Wednesday morning. No one was hurt during the fire.

Firefighters got on scene just after 4 a.m. and worked throughout the morning and early afternoon. The fire was determined to be under control at 10:44 a.m.

The Bath County Sheriff’s Office says there is significant damage to the building housing the LDCO Restaurant & Bar, Jackson River Cafe, and apartment units. The apartment units were short term rentals so no one is displaced.

The building’s owner explained they recently finished restoration projects before the fire happened and it is a devastating loss.

“We were so excited because this was going to be the first full season combined with the restoration of the hotel and the pools,” Pat Haynes said. “Our whole area has just really come back and we were excited, and then this has to happen. But we’ll rally.”

The fire appears to have started in the back kitchen of the LCDO restaurant, according to Bath County Sheriff Robert Plecker, who says two people got out safely from the back of the building.

The Virginia ABC store adjacent to the restaurants sustained smoke damage and will be closed at least through Wednesday.

Virginia State Police will investigate to determine the cause.