NBC29Fire Destroys Waynesboro Business

Fire Destroys Waynesboro Business

Reported by Ken Slack
October 04, 2007

Firefighters are on the scene of a large blaze that ripped through a commercial building in Waynesboro Thursday morning. The blaze caused extensive damage to Colonial Plaza on Poplar Avenue. Colonial Plaza houses two businesses: Sterling Printing Services and Tienda La Mexicana, a Hispanic grocery store.

Firefighters were called to the scene about 7:20 Thursday morning. Flames were already shooting through the roof. Crews worked to contain the fire to the grocery store where they believe it started.

Tienda la Mexicana was completely destroyed. Sterling Printing sustained some smoke and water damage, though workers there were reportedly able to save some of their valued equipment.

Waynesboro Fire Chief Charlie Scott says the flames and smoke were able to spread to the rest of the building through the attic area. It is open through the length of the structure, and has no fire walls. The chief believes the fire started in the left front corner of the grocery store but there is no word yet on the cause. Investigators believe the fire is electrical in nature.

Firefighters put damage estimates well into six figures and perhaps as much as $250,000 dollars.