A pre-dawn fire caused heavy damage to a professional office building near Ohio Route 7 early Saturday morning.

Firefighters from Dunham Township, Little Hocking and Belpre were called to the Riverview Financial Building shortly before 7 A.M., after a passing motorist from route 7.

No one was inside the structure, located on Ayres Boulevard, and there were no injuries. The fire was brought under control within minutes, according to Deputy Beth Mayle of the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

"The back side of the building did have some substantial damage," Deputy Mayle said. "That's where the fire started. Throughout the front part and the side, it's more smoke damage. But the back side received most of the damage when the fire started."

Dunham Township's fire chief said the fire was accidental, and believed to be electrical or furnace-related.

There was substantial damage to the back of the building, where the fire started, and heavy smoke damage to the rest of the structure.

The Riverview building houses business and professional offices.