Tire center hoping to rebuild
* Fire's cause was likely electrical
By Scott Harper and Clayton Stairs
Staff writers
An electrical problem likely started the fire that destroyed a tire service center in Georgetown Monday, causing traffic to be re-routed for seven-plus hours.
Georgetown Wheel and Tire Service, a landmark at the corner of Highmarket Street and Highway 17, is now a pile of rubble after fast-moving flames consumed hundreds of tires stacked inside the building.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles around.
Fire's cause
Bill Johnson, assistant fire chief of the Georgetown Fire Department, said the fire was most likely sparked by an electrical problem in or near an electrical panel at the back wall of the store.
Although the destruction of the building has made it impossible to completely determine the cause, he said arson has been ruled out.
"There is no indication of foul play," Johnson said. "The fire burned very naturally and there were no suspicious patterns."
It took crews from three fire departments about four hours to bring the blaze under control, Johnson said.
Safety measures
During the fire, police drove around the area to warn almost 400 potential residents to stay inside their homes, shut their doors and windows and turn off their air conditioners (called an evacuation in place), said Sam Hodge, emergency manager for the county.
Georgetown Memorial Hospital, less than a mile away from the fire, was on full alert.
The hospital kept employees, volunteers and patients inside and doctors postponed surgeries because of the smoke, Hodge said.
Also during the fire, McDonald's restaurant -- located across Highmarket Street -- had to close because the building was filling with smoke.
Traffic on Highmarket Street was re-routed to Church Street all day and during the fire, traffic on Highway 17 through Georgetown was also re-routed.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross opened a shelter for residents at the Bobby Alford Center at East Bay Park but the all clear -- issued at about 10:30 a.m. Monday -- was given before the service was needed.
Rebuilding?
The owner of the tire service center, Richard Weathers, said Monday he wants to clear the lot and start rebuilding his business as soon as possible.
Jim Hills, owner of the building, said he is allowing Weathers to use an adjacent building to restart his business after an estimated $150,000 loss in equipment and inventory.
He said if they do not rebuild in the location of the tire service center, once an old Gulf Oil station, it may become a parking lot. Hills' father owned the previous business, he said, and Weathers has been in the building for more than 20 years.
City Council member Peggy Wayne said the fire started right at shift change, so there were two sets of firefighters available.
Fighting the fire
Firefighters from Georgetown County and Midway Fire/Rescue were called to assist the city fire department.
Because tires fueled the flames, crews had to rely on alternative methods in their fire fighting efforts.
More than 100 gallons of foam was used because it sticks to rubber, Johnson said.
The main goal of firefighters was to keep the flames from spreading to other buildings and those efforts were successful.
Johnson said people "started beating on the door of the fire station" at about 6:45 a.m. Monday telling them about the fire.
"We got here and saw plumes of smoke," Johnson said from the scene.
Injury
One firefighter was injured on the scene.
Capt. David Holcombe of the Georgetown City Fire Department was struck by a vehicle as he stood in the street with a group of other emergency workers during the cleanup.
Even though the road was blocked off, the driver of a vehicle ran through a barricade at about 1 p.m. and struck Holcombe -- a longtime firefighter -- injuring his shoulder.
He was transported to the hospital for treatment, Johnson said.
Holcombe was later released and did not suffer any broken bones, Johnson said.