A significant fire broke out on Friday morning, destroying several buildings at the former Virginia Intermont College campus, which a local official described as “a tragedy for our city.”

Social media videos and local news footage reveal the enormous flames engulfing parts of the historic college campus. Virginia Intermont College, located in Bristol, Virginia, near the Tennessee border, closed its doors in 2014.

Bristol city councilman Neal Osborne posted a video on Facebook, noting that by 1:15 a.m., the college’s main hall had turned into “a full inferno.”

“There’s no denying it—this is a serious situation and a tragedy not just for our city, but for our neighborhood and for everyone associated with Virginia Intermont College,” Osborne expressed in his post. “It’s heartbreaking to witness this.”

On Friday morning, YSL News contacted the Bristol Fire Department for further details about the fire.

City Councilman: Property Owners Must Explain Fire’s Cause

The fire was prominently visible in videos showing the main building on campus along with nearby structures. News reports from WJHL-TV indicated that the building collapsed after 2 a.m.

Local police and firefighters responded to the alarm, with Osborne indicating that assistance was called in from neighboring departments.

Osborne mentioned that he and fellow city officials had previously urged the property owners to maintain the aging structures, but their appeals consistently went unheard.

“In my opinion, they must answer for this,” Osborne asserted. “They should explain why the property wasn’t secured and why no preventative measures were taken to stop this tragedy.”

Overview of Virginia Intermont College

Virginia Intermont College, located against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was established in the late 1800s as a women’s institution for higher education. It later became a coeducational facility before shutting down on May 20, 2014, due to financial difficulties and loss of accreditation, according to the Roanoke Times.

This isn’t the first incident involving a fire on the deserted campus. Following a previous fire in November, Bristol Fire Chief Mike Armstrong reported to WJHL that the area was “hazardous,” prompting firefighters to prioritize addressing fires without entering the deteriorating structures.

“The floors are unstable, windows are shattered, and the roofs are in bad condition. It’s unsafe to navigate inside due to debris and broken glass,” Armstrong stated. “In the last year, we have dealt with multiple fire incidents here.”

Bristol Vice-Mayor Jake Holmes remarked to WJHL that the site has been neglected and poses a “risk.”