Somerset dentist office goes up in flames

SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - A setback on Friday for a dental office scheduled to open soon.

Fire destroyed most of the office at Medpark West, near Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, in Somerset.

Doctor Darrell Bartley says what happened hurts worse than a root canal.

"Woke up at seven this morning to a phone call from my general contractor and he just came right straight out and said your building is on fire," said Dr. Bartley. "It's like you go blank. My mind had to go blank for a while and just take all this in."

Dr. Bartley's current office has more patients than space. For six years, he's been making plans to move into Somerset's new medical complex.

He was supposed to move in next week, but is looking at the setback from a different angle.

"There's a lot worse things in life that could happen besides a building burning down," Dr. Bartley said. "No one was hurt the building can be rebuilt."

Dr. Bartley says support from the community is keeping him going.

"I have received call after call this morning from my colleagues, from my friends, church family, sometimes people I'm not even familiar with, bringing gifts by has just been beautiful."

Somerset fire investigators say the fire is not suspicious and they don't know the cause.

Funeral arrangements set for Estill County teen