Photo by Eric Tichy City firefighters are pictured on Crescent Street after fire broke out at a former furniture manufacturing plant Friday.

By ERIC TICHY

etichy@post-journal.com

Massive flames, several stories tall, could be seen Friday evening shooting from a multi-story brick property formerly home to a furniture manufacturing plant.

The heat from the blaze was so intense at times it could be felt more than two blocks away and quickly melted the siding on a nearby home.

Area residents were forced to evacuate as heavy, black smoke also could be seen from several points across the city.

Firefighters were alerted around 6:30 p.m. to the blaze at 308 Crescent St., known previously as the home to Jamestown Royal Inc.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said — last city officials knew — the building’s current owner was in the process of completing “some personal work” and may have been doing small furniture refinishing inside.

Within moments of being dispatched Friday, city officials requested off-duty firefighters.

Eventually, all available manpower was summoned to the scene, including volunteer departments surrounding the city.

At various points, loud booming sounds could be heard, likely the result of bricks from the building crashing to the ground.

Officers with the Jamestown Police Department and county fire police crews were called to cordon off several roads leading to Crescent Street.

Even two hours into firefighting efforts, smoke could be seen blocks away.

The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known. Due to safety concerns, a demolition was planned.