WILLIAMSON – An apartment building in West Williamson was damaged by a fire of undetermined origin Sunday evening, leaving two tenants homeless.

According to Williamson Fire Department Chief Jerry Mounts, the department received a call shortly before 8 p.m. of a structure fire.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, smoke was billowing from the roof and eaves of the building, Mounts said. He explained the department used a technique called overhaul to confine the fire.

“Extensive overhaul is an operation firefighters perform that assures them that the fire has not spread to an area of the structure beyond what they can easily see,” Mounts said.

Two engine companies, one truck company, 17 firefighters and an incident command vehicle responded to the fire and remained on scene until 10:45 p.m.

The building, which is owned by Jerry Berman of Fairmont, was occupied by two separate tenants, who are now homeless.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and is being investigated by the Williamson Fire Department, along with members of the Williamson Police Department and Mingo County Sheriff’s Department.