July 11--FAIRMONT -- Six fire departments put out a fire this morning that destroyed an empty warehouse.
Fire Chief James Thompson, of the Fairmont City Fire Department, said it took firefighters more than three hours to contain the fire at 109 S. Morro St.
"It's smoldering right now but it's contained inside of the structure," Thompson said at about 11 a.m.
According to Lt. Brian Duckworth, a fire investigator with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, the fire was fueled by the dry timber and tar roof of the structure.
"Once it caught on, it ran from one end to another quickly," Duckworth said.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, he said.
"Everything right now is just so hot, especially with all that tin and metal around there," he said. "There are several electric panels where the building was at but we're not sure if that was the cause or not."
According to Duckworth, the warehouse belongs to 51-year-old Timmy Rising, of Bladenboro, who bought the property at an auction for $32,000.
"He (Rising) buys structures and remodels them and sells them," he said.
Duckworth said Rising, who had insurance on the building, had not started remodeling work on the property yet.
The Fairmont Rural Fire Department, Smyrna Volunteer Fire Department, White House Volunteer Fire Department, Orrum Fire Department and Raynham-McDonald Fire Department assisted the Fairmont City Fire Department.
Copyright 2013 - The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C.
