An overnight fire damaged three buildings off N.C. Highway 73 in West End.

Firefighters from West End, Seven Lakes, Eagle Springs, Pinehurst, and Eastwood were initially dispatched before 1 a.m. to the 2700 block of Highway 73. When the first unit arrived, a building described as a workshop was fully in flames. A close by garage had smoke coming from it. The flames were eventually able to do some damage to the garage, including to a Chevy Avalanche and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The heat from the blaze also damaged the vinyl siding of a house at the address.

According to the West End Fire Department, the homeowner attempted to prevent the spread of the flames with a fire extinguisher. He was evaluated by Moore County EMS at the scene, but was not transported to the hospital.

A tanker strike team was dispatched due to near drought conditions causing Moore County Water System to be on a water conservation status. Water was brought in on tankers from a water tank at Eastwood Fire Department. Tankers from Pinebluff, Whispering Pines, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Cypress Pointe, and Crains Creek were a part of the strike team.

N.C. Highway 73 was closed by Moore County Sheriff’s Office for several hours to allow pools of water to be set up at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Moore County Public Safety Fire Marshal.