DANVILLE, Va. – A pre-dawn fire Saturday destroyed the Henry Street Apartments and the flames were so intense that they spread to a nearby home.

Crews responded to a call at 454 Henry Street about 4:40 a.m. The first units on the scene reported smoke and flames coming from the front and back of the two-story apartment complex. The fire had also spread to an adjacent house.

Crews began an aggressive attack inside the house next door to the apartments and used large handlines and the ladder truck to knock the fire down in the apartment building.

Power had to be shut off in the area for a short period of time because of two live power lines on the ground near the firefighters. A gas line also ruptured and caught fire early on in the response.  The gas department assisted in managing that problem.

The apartment building was completely destroyed by fire with only the framework left standing.

There were no reports of injuries in the fire.

Crews were still on the scene at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Danville Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire and residents are asked to avoid the area until later in the day.

Ken Warrick photos