VINTON, Va. (WDBJ) – The public is asked to avoid downtown Vinton Saturday morning during the aftermath of an overnight fire.

Roanoke County Fire & Rescue was called just before 2 a.m. about a fire at DR Music Center, an instrument store at the intersection of Pollard Street and Lee Avenue, involving two commercial buildings with apartments above. Roanoke City Fire-EMS also responded.

The music store and an adjoining Edward Jones Investment office are total losses, according to Brian Clingenpeel, community outreach coordinator with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue. The apartments are also lost. The fire is out, but crews are prepping to tear down one of the buildings, with the roof having collapsed.

Fire crews plan to be at the scene most of the day, and a county building inspector is there to check surrounding buildings to make sure they are structurally sound.

One cat was killed. No other injuries have been reported, but eight people from the apartments are displaced and getting help from the American Red Cross.

Police have shut off traffic to most of downtown Vinton until further notice.

There is no word yet regarding a cause, and Clingenpeel says causes are difficult to determine when there is damage as severe as in this case.

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