Three Fires Under a Mile Apart in South Carolina

March 13, 2003
Almost all Greenville city fire crews were called to the scenes of three fires west of downtown late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
POSTED: 1:25 a.m. EST March 13, 2003
UPDATED: 9:38 a.m. EST March 13, 2003
Story by The Carolina Channel GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Almost all Greenville city fire crews were called to the scenes of three fires west of downtown late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

Investigators said that they think the blazes may be related.

Images From Downtown Greenville Fires

The first fire broke out before 11 p.m. in a two-story warehouse at Hudson Street and Oscar Street, a block from the main post office. As of early Thursday morning, several engines and crews were still on scene.

Fire could be seen along the roofline and an orange glow was still visible through the windows more than two hours after the blaze was reported.

The second fire was reported just after 1 a.m., less than one-half mile from the Hudson Street fire.

When crews arrived at the Azah Shrine Temple on Birnie Street, fire had already burned through the roof of the former school building. Flames reached 50 to 60 feet in the air.

Shortly after the Birnie Street fire, a smaller blaze broke out at a home on Gower Street. That fire was quickly contained, fire officials said.

Fire officials said that at one point, only a single Greenville fire engine was not committed to one of the three fires.

Investigators are trying to determine the causes of the fires.

"Sounds like our investigators are going to be busy for the next few days," Greenville Fire Chief Tom McDowell told News 4. "We're already started the investigation. All three fires are currently under investigation."

Copyright 2003 by TheCarolinaChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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