WEST POINT — West Point and Clay County firefighters were on the scene of a raging fire until 1:40 a.m. today.
The building housing Dollar General and Wardrobe Creations on Highway 465 alternate caught fire around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and quickly grew out of control. West Point Fire Chief Johnny Littlefield reported no injuries, but the building was a total loss.
“It was a real hoss. Real hard to get out,” he said of the blaze.
Heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the store by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. Littlefield says his men attempted to make an interior attack to put the fire out at the source, but the fire began in the northeast corner of the building and the entrance, located on the west side, was too far away and smoke was too thick. The cause of the fire is unknown.
“After 30 minutes, it just turned into a defensive attack to contain it,” said Littlefield.
The West Point Fire Department was assisted in the effort by Clay County volunteer firefighters and a pumper truck from Unit 100.
West Point Mayor Scott Ross, who owns the Dollar General, said the WPFD did an “incredible job” containing the blaze.
“The wind was blowing pretty hard, and it could have easily gotten out of hand and possibly damaged other structures. I just watched (the firefighters”) teamwork. It was clear they”re well trained,” he said.
Traffic on Highway 45 Alternate was stopped while the store, which is located at 402 Highway 45 Alternate, burned.
Robin Pace, manager of the Dollar General, reportedly asked another employee if they smelled cigarette smoke approximately 15 minutes before a customer approached the front of the store and said “Your store”s on fire.”
“She looked back and could see the flames so she evacuated the store,” said Littlefield.
Unfortunately, Pace left her own car keys in the store and part of the store”s roof fell on her car.
Ross said another small blaze sprang up this morning and was quickly put down by the WPFD. He”s been in contact with Dollar General corporate representatives and hopes to rebuild the store on the same site.
Ross bought the building in 1996 and said business had been doing well.
“It”s a great location, but it was an old building. Some people are going to be out of work for a while, but I think everybody”s goal is to get it rebuilt and reopen as soon as possible.”
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