Gas Station/Store Destroyed by Fire

WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. -- A large fire destroyed a gas station and convenience store early Sunday morning, leaving behind a smoldering shell of a building that was still smoking on Sunday afternoon.

The Pit Stop, a store and gas station on Route 52 in Wayne County near Fort Gay, has been around for more than thirty years.

Dispatchers say an employee of the store called 911 about 1:30 a.m. Sunday to let them know the store had caught on fire.

Firefighters from five departments -- Louisa, Prichard, Lowmansville, Big Sandy and Fort Gay -- showed up to battle the flames.

Firefighters are not sure what caused the fire to ignite. Bowen said the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal's office.

The owner, A.J. Gogia, said he has owned the business since last September. He found out when the fire broke out Sunday morning through a phone call. He did not say whether he planned to rebuild.