The Weare Center Store sustained serious damage during a three-alarm fire that started just before midnight on Monday, July 23.

Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office, insurance adjusters and firefighters were on site Tuesday morning, July 24, trying to determine the cause of the fire that tore through an addition on the side of the store, causing the roof to collapse. No one was injured.

Firefighters from several surrounding towns responded to the blaze, which seemed to have started in the single-story addition, and just after 1 a.m. on July 24 were able to get the fire under control.

“It appears that the damage is most severe in the addition,” said Weare Fire Chief Robert Vezina. “The fire climbed the wall toward the apartments on the second floor, but we’re not sure it did a lot of damage.”

The store, located on South Stark Highway across from the middle school, is owned by Mohammad Nawaz, who lost a lot of inventory due to smoke and water damage.

“But the fact that the building is still standing is a win for the Fire Department,” said Vezina.

The fire was reported just before midnight, and it took fire crews about an hour to knock it down. The blaze was under control at 1:19 a.m. Vezina expects the store will remain closed for about a month because of the damage.