Fire Destroys Three Downtown Buildings In Barnsdall

Three downtown buildings in the Osage County community of Barnsdall went up in flames Wednesday evening. 

Firefighters from across Osage and Washington counties responded to the fire after getting the call for help just before 7 p.m. 

Along with fighting the blaze, firefighters had to transport water 2 and a half miles to the fire because a downtown power line had been shut off, causing Barnsdall's water pumps to stop working.

Firefighters say the fire started at a former beauty shop at 5th Street and Maple. It then spread to a building next door, which at one time housed the the Barnsdall Times newspaper. Both buildings were built in the 1930s. 

Firefighters also fought to prevent the fire from spreading to a third building, built in the 1920s. That building was a former speakeasy and current storage space for several 1960s Corvettes.

A relative of the building's owner said they were able to save the Corvettes before fire damaged the building. 

Barnsdall Mayor, JD Cole, says the fire is an awful loss for the community. 

"I've been here all my life - I was born and raised here, and it's devastating to lose an old building like that. We've had it happen several times, and you never get used to it," said JD Cole. 

Cold temperatures also caused water to freeze in the streets at the fire scene. 

Fire officials say no one was injured and fire investigators are now trying to determine what caused the fire.