MABLETON, Ga. — Business owners are trying to salvage what they can after flames raced through a Cobb County strip mall Saturday.
At least one business owner says she is not happy about how the fire department handled the situation.
The Cobb County Fire Department told Channel 2’s Liz Artz that they stand by the job they did at the Mableton strip mall.
Charred remains are all that is left of half of the businesses. Investigators said they are looking into whether a space heater is the cause.
Well into dark Saturday night, friends of longtime Mableton business owner Lynne Groover and her husband helped move merchandise out of their pawn shop.
Cody Thomas said there was not much left to salvage.
“The guns are all wet and need cleaned up. Other merchandise needs to come out," Thomas said.
Cell phone video captured the raging fire that destroyed half of White Columns Center off Veteran’s Memorial Highway.
The Groovers watched as their livelihood burned. Lynne Groover said her husband made the initial 911 call.
“They were able to get my husband, my daughter-in-law and my grandson out. That’s who was here," she said.
Fire officials say the fire started in the office of a thrift store on the west side of the building. The Groovers felt firefighters could have moved faster.
“Look, my livelihood is going off in here. Why isn't there water on the building?" Groover asked as she watched her business burn.
Lt. Dan Dupree told Artz the first truck was en route one minute after the initial 911 call and arrived less than five minutes later.
He said three more trucks arrived approximately one minute after the first truck. He admitted it took time to get larger hoses pulled to tackle the fire already fully evolved.
"It took a while to get it put out. Large amount of fire load," Dupree said.
Overall, Dupree said the crews did an outstanding job, but couldn't save half the nine businesses.
The other half suffered extensive smoke damage, including Reid's Deli.
“Saddened by it. Got a feelin’ it will come back," said patron Rich Deneen.
Fire officials say the building is so old it probably won’t be cost-effective to salvage it. The owner will likely have to tear it down.
They said there were no fire walls and all the mandatory safety measures that are required.
WSBTV
