An Ellijay tire shop and garage was destroyed in an early morning fire last Wednesday. Gilmer Fire and Rescue and the Ellijay Fire Department both responded to the call.
Gilmer Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman said a citizen passing by Wholesale Tires on Old Highway 5 North noticed flames in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 and called 911.
“Upon arrival, they found a commercial building well involved. Our battalion chief established command and made it a defensive operation,” Kauffman said.
While fighting the fire, there was a significant explosion inside the building followed by several smaller explosions, possibly from equipment burning, Kauffman noted.
“In a commercial building like that, you (might) have compressed gases, hydraulic lifts, barrels, anything that can build up vapor and explode,” he added.
Joe Sellers, who runs an auto repair shop, Joe’s Garage, next to Wholesale Tires, said the fire burned up his personal truck and several vehicles that belonged to his customers. Sellers said he does not own the business or building that caught fire.
Kauffman said six vehicles, a travel trailer and a pile of tires all burned. There was no damage to residences near the garage, he confirmed.
“The church and houses were all untouched. Everything was contained to the commercial building and the surrounding vehicles. The travel trailer was next door to the auto repair shop, but it was unoccupied. We did check to make sure it was unoccupied,” Kauffman said.
A section of Old Highway 5 was closed so that fire crews could safely contain the fire, which was was called under control just before 5 a.m. Overhaul of the building and extinguishing hot spots lasted until about 6:20 a.m., according to Gilmer Fire.
“The school board was notified for any buses that may have to be rerouted, (and) the time of day worked in our favor as far as keeping traffic at bay,” Kauffman said.
The cause of the fire was not released, and it’s still under investigation. That’s normal procedure for a commercial building fire, the fire chief said.