Mount Vernon fire closes portions of Highway 1

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A building fire in Mt. Vernon could cause Highway 1 to close for up to two hours, officials said Wednesday.

Mt. Vernon fire captain Dave Hereen said the fire, which started at approximately 2:45 p.m. at a house on 1st Avenue, started after an explosion in the garage. The wind then caused the flames to spread to the east side of the house, engulfing both structures.

Hereen said nine departments from a radius of over 20 miles came to assist with the fire due to today's high temperatures. Fire fighters were working in shifts to avoid getting overheated.

Officials have not determined the cause of the explosion, and the fire is under investigation. The house and the garage are a total loss, and Hereen said he did not immediately have an estimate for the total damages.

No one was injured in the fire. Officials are re-directing traffic on Highway 1 of Mt. Vernon, and Hereen said the road may be closed for a several hours until the fire is completely extinguished.

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