Fire destroys historic Austell business

AUSTELL, Ga. — Investigators are trying to find out what led to a fire that destroyed a sign business in Austell.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Amanda Cook the fire at A&W Sign Company on Veterans Memorial Parkway started at about 9 a.m. on Sunday.  The flames were so intense that they couldn’t get close to fight it, investigators said.

Building manager Jim Schenieder said the facility had been at the site since the 1940s. He said they had rented the building for about the last 10 years before taking ownership of the property in December.

He said A&W is just mainly used as a storage space for electronics for the owners, and he’s confused about why the business just went up in flames Sunday morning.

The fire knocked out power to about six residents in the area, including an 87-year-old woman. Crews were working to quickly restore power as Sunday brought about chilly temperatures.

WSBTV