Cause of thrift store fire unknown
Mar. 5—Fire investigators were not able to determine the cause of the fire that destroyed a thrift store in Whitnel on
The fire at Dollars for
"We feel strongly that it was electrical in nature but can't pinpoint, so no way to call it that," Hair wrote in a text message. "We could tell something was plugged in at the area of origin but can't tell what it was or if there was a failure."
The store did not have a working sprinkler system or fire alarms, but neither would have been required at the time the building was built, Hair said.
The store was operating in
He had insurance, but "it was very, very minimal," he said.
"But we'll see. We're exploring what our options are. We would have been in a whole lot worse shape if we didn't have the insurance we did have," he said.
Meanwhile, the owner of a business right next to the thrift store is waiting to find out whether his space can be rebuilt or he has to move somewhere else. While the flames didn't reach Martin & Company Hairstyling, the salon was severely damaged by smoke, as well as water from the fire hoses, which owner
"My business was basically a total loss," he said. "It's still kind of up in the air what we're going to be able to do. ... We're just trying to decide."
Benfield said that the community has stepped up to help the salon's 11 stylists.
"The word got out, and within one day, all the salons in the county took in my girls, so every one of them have jobs now," he said.
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