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Published Fri, Sep 03, 2010 07:23 PM
Modified Fri, Sep 03, 2010 07:30 PM

Cary investigates motel fire

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TRAVIS LONG - tlong@newsobserver.com

Emergency personnel work the scene of a structure fire at 607 East Chatham St. on Friday in Cary.

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By Jack Hagel and Jordan Cooke - Staff writers

CARY -- Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that gutted a portion of a residential motel near downtown Cary.

Shortly after 6 p.m. today, firefighters arrived at the Harrison Motel at 607 E. Chatham St., where one of the motel's three buildings was engulfed, Cary spokeswoman Susan Moran said.

The single-story building contained six units, which are rented on a longer-term basis than a travel motel.

It was unclear if any of them were occupied at the time of the blaze or how many people would be displaced, but nobody was injured.

Cary fire fighters extinguished the fire by 6:40 p.m. The town is cooperating with Wake County in the investigation, Moran said.

It's not the first fire at that location.

In July 1998, a fire caused $100,000 worth of damage to the Harrison Motel. Authorities said then that the fire was accidentally started by a candle or cigarette in a wicker basket in the bathroom of one of the rooms.

There were no injuries reported then.

jack.hagel@newsobserver.com or 919-460-2605

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