CANTON — Authorities closed a section of Old Asheville Highway in Canton Monday afternoon when a fire broke out at an apartment above Affordable Tire and Auto.

Flames were bursting out of the roof of the building when fire fighters and police officers arrived on the scene around 1:20 p.m. The residents of the apartment were not home at the time, although there were some people working in the automotive repair and tire store below.

Benny Coleman, assistant fire marshal for Haywood County, said it appears that the fire started outside on the porch leading into the apartment, although he does not know exactly what caused it.

More than 20 emergency vehicles responded to the scene and traffic that is typically heavy on the road was blocked for nearly two hours.

Fire fighters climbed to the roof ...