The Boone Fire Department responded around 5:45 Sunday morning to a blaze at 814/816 Eighth Street, the six-story structure known as the Boone National Building. It appears an apartment fire on the southwestern corner of the fifth floor spread to other areas in the building. According to Chief Justin Adams, there was one fatality, although the name of the victim has not yet been released. The blaze has been extinguished, but now the investigation begins with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. To aid in that work, Keeler has been closed between Seventh and Eighth Streets, as well as Eighth between Story and Keeler. The Boone Fire Department requests that motorists avoid this area downtown.