JARRELL (April 21, 2009)--A huge blaze tore through the Danek Hardware and Lumber Yard Tuesday morning in Jarrell and subsequent power interruptions forced the local schools to close.

Electric service was completely restored late Tuesday morning, but there were still reports of phone and cable outages.

The fire was reported at 1 a.m. Tuesday, and in spite of the store's location across the street from the Jarrell Fire Station, the building and yard are said to be a total loss.

The first to discover the blaze was a Jarrell firefighter who was awakened by an explosion from the burning lumberyard.

Fire departments from Jarrell, Georgetown, Holland, Salado, Bartlett, Weir and Florence were called to the scene but according to a spokeswoman from the Williamson County Emergency Communications Office little could be done.

The business is located right downtown at the corner of 5th Street and Ave. H.

Electricity to the entire city was cut off, and that also forced interruption of telephone service, said Connie Watson, of the county emergency communications office.

The power company has moved a large generator into the area and Watson said she expects to have telephone service restored sometime Tuesday morning.

No one was injured in the blaze.

Fire department officials are mopping up the scene and as soon as they are able will begin a search for the origin and cause of the blaze.