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Richard Piatt ReportingDozens of Farmington residents woke up early this morning to heavy smoke and enormous flames coming from an old, abandoned building.
Crews were still trying to put out the remnants of the fire almost four hours after it started. One building was still smoking just before 7 am.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, the flames were intense. Neighbors say flames were shooting into the air, embers were flying, and smoke filled the air.
The buildings have been abandoned for at least 20 years. At one time they were a restaurant.
Firefighters say the fire is suspicious. A team is investigating it as arson.
Chief Larry Gregory, Farmington Fire Dept.: "Since the building's abandoned I'd have to say it's suspicious at this point, because there's nothing in the building that would've started it."
Investigators believe the fire started on the outside of the building.
The property as whole was set to be developed into condominiums, but investigators don't believe that had anything to do with the fire.
