Fire claims several buildings in Forrest City

Several buildings in downtown Forrest City have been gutted by fire and officials are working to determine the cause.

The Sunday fire started in one of two vacant buildings and took until Monday to bring under control.

The Times-Herald reported that firefighters dealt with intense heat and several explosions that occurred during the blaze. Fire officials say there may have been abandoned propane tanks inside one or more of the buildings.

Mayor Larry Bryant says he was inside one of the buildings last week with a code enforcement officer. Bryant says there was evidence that people had been entering and leaving the structure and says the explosions may have been from a methamphetamine lab.

Firefighters didn’t find anyone inside the buildings.

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