BACK VIEW - Shell of burned out downtown Spencer building owned
by Charles McCarty, fire has suspicious nature
West Virginia Fire Marshal's investigative unit in front
of burned out building, investigation results in arrest
UPDATE 9/08 - The West Virginia Fire Marshal's office says a Spencer man, Jacob Lee Hite, 21, has been arrested in connected with a downtown Spencer fire over the weekend. The Spencer Police Department made the arrest Monday.
 Hite (left) is in Central Regional Jail, charged with 1st degree arson and arson causing bodily injury., involving about seven different felony counts. Bail is set at $210,000.
Hite reportedly received burns, along with an infant son.
Sources told the Herald over the weekend that the origin of the fire appeared suspicious (See Previous Update), not only leaving people homeless, persons injured, but some of the residents lives were likely put at risk with the rapidly spreading fire.
UPDATE 9/07 - State Fire Marshal investigators are looking into the cause of a rapidly spreading fire in downtown Spencer Saturday night.
Sources told the Herald there is suspicion that the fire could have started from a meth lab, the fire quickly occurring and spreading on the buildings upper floor.
Those sources indicated that the person who occupied an apartment in which the fire started did not notify anyone of the rapidly spreading blaze, which could have ended disastrously, since there was only one exiting staircase.
Firemen poured about about a million gallons of water to save adjacent structures and the block located behind the county courthouse.
At least four families are homeless, with one person being taken to the hospital with burns and another elderly man with smoke inhalation.
UPDATE 9/07 - Firemen remained on scene until 1 a.m. Sunday, the building contained about seven apartments, some of which had been recently remodeled, was considered a total loss.
Reports said Charles khun, a resident, was taken to the hospital and admitted for smoke inhalation.
There was heavy water and smoke damage to adjacent structures, sustained by Attorney Drew Patton and the T.J. Swap Shop & Gun store.
The State Fire Marshall will be investigating the origin of the rapidly spreading fire.
Major fire contained in downtown Spencer Saturday night (Hur Herald)
ORIGINAL STORY 10 P.M. 9/06 - A potentially major fire in downtown Spencer was reported to Roane 911 at 7:21 Saturday evening, with flames coming through the roof of an apartment building directly behind the Roane County courthouse.
The Spencer-Roane VFD quickly responded to the blaze, calling for mutual assistance, most of the fire was contained to the structure, with adjacent buildings on either side damaged.
The main structure involved was Court Street Apartments. It was not learned how many families have been displaced.
Some people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Arnoldsburg firemen Fred Waybright (left)
and Chief Derek Wright respond to blaze
Photo Courtesy of Melinda Anderson, WOWK Channel 13 News Viewer
Nine other fire departments responded to the blaze, pouring tens of thousands of gallons of water on the fire, preventing its spread.
The buildings adjacent the fire were mostly apartments, with some commercial outlets on the ground floor.
Firemen were still on scene at 11:00 p.m.
Electricity was off to parts of downtown Spencer.
In addition to the Spencer-Roane VFD, departments from Reedy, Clover, Walton Gandeeville, Newton, Ripley, Kenna, Arnoldsburg and Elizabeth responded. | 
