ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120034
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER CHRISTIANSBURG
An investigation into a fire early Saturday morning that destroyed a Christiansburg doctor's office is continuing this week.
Dr. Kenneth Jones' office at 6 Hickok Street in the downtown area caught fire.
Meanwhile Jones and his family practice staff are trying to cope and resume normal operations in the face of losing thousands of patient files and just about every piece of office equipment.
Jones' wife, Karen, said the practice is using a medical arts building across the street from the burned building. Space at the center, owned by Montgomery Regional Hospital, was recently vacated by a pediatrician - providing much-needed facilities for Jones and his staff.
"It's been amazing how everybody has responded," she said.
Smoke damage from the fire was "totally disastrous. Everything's practically ruined," she said.
"It's just like black; it's like walking into a cave," she said.
More than 20,000 patient charts were lost in the fire.
"We think our lab equipment is gone - just about everything," except the X-ray room, which was surrounded by lead walls.
Jones has practiced medicine in Christiansburg for 19 years.
Dr. Garry Kuiken and nurse practitioner Gayle Griffin started seeing patients again Wednesday, Karen Jones said. Her husband hasn't resumed practice yet.
The Joneses were alerted to the fire by a patient who lives on nearby First Street who called to tell them flames could be seen coming from the office roof. The couple called Christiansburg police, who told them firefighters were on the scene.
Epperly said no one was injured as firefighters worked the fire for about four hours.
"Other than that, I wouldn't be able to comment any further until the investigation's complete," Epperly said.
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB