Fire Destroys GA Business, Mobile Home

The cause of a fire that destroyed Dirty Dave’s Party and Gift Shop in Chatsworth is “undetermined and still under investigation,” an official with the Murray County Fire Department said.

The call came in Tuesday at 3:05 p.m., with firefighters arriving at the business at 2680 Highway 411 South at 3:12 p.m.

The store owned by David Burger for the past 18 years was a complete loss. Burger also lost the mobile home he shared with his sister and brother, which was near the business.

“I had not one dime of insurance on my home or the store,” he said.

Burger said he was in the back of the 30,000-square-foot building when the fire started.

“It was in full flames within 10 minutes,” he said. “All we sell is plastic and paper items so it went up like a gas can.”

Burger and an employee helped get customers out of the store.

Burger said being in Chatsworth for the last 18 years is the longest he’s stayed in one place.

“I’ve been in the produce business all my life,” he said.

Burger said he usually opens a produce market and then sells it to a family member. His sister currently runs the Burgers Market in Cartersville.

“At one time we had 28 produce stores, before we started retiring and getting our own businesses,” Burger said.

Traffic on 411 South was stalled for hours while firefighters extinguished the fire. Murray County officials said firefighters were on the scene until 10 p.m.

Burger said he hates that the fire happened and feels bad for people who lost power because of the fire. He said his concern now is to find a place to live for his brother.

As for the business, “It’s a little too early to tell,” he said.

Cheryl Blackwell of Chatsworth said she has known Burger for many years.

“I know a lot of people know him as ‘Dirty Dave,’ but he is one of the sweetest, most caring men I’ve ever met,” Blackwell said.

She said when she was doing community outreach she could always count on Burger to help.

“When I came up short on school supplies he would always finish what I needed,” she said.

Blackwell recalled a time when there was a fundraiser for a cancer patient and Burger provided all the food.

“He has never turned me down, he even sponsored a youth baseball team one year,” she said.

Teresa Faustette started a GoFundMe account as a result of the fire. As of Wednesday afternoon the Dave Burger Rebuilding campaign had reached $400 of its $5,000 goal.

“As long as I’ve been in Chatsworth I’ve seen how giving and caring he is,” Faustette said. “I’ve been through something similar so I know what it’s like to lose everything. It’s time for those of us who can to help him.”

Faustette said Burger has done a lot of work in the community and never seeks praise.

“He doesn’t make a big deal about anything. Even last night he just asked for prayers,” she said.

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