INCIDENT DATE: 03/29/2020
TIME DISPATCHED: 02:09 PM
TIME ARRIVED: 02:11 PM
TIME UNDER CONTROL: 04:30 PM
(Elizabethtown, Nc., March 29, 2020) – Firefighters responded at 02:09 Pm to a report of a commercial business fire in the 100 block of W Broad St, centralized Elizabethtown. Multiple callers to 911 reported smoke coming from the building.

Firefighters arrived to find a heavily smoke filled two-story, brick and heavy timber-framed commercial building. Making entry to the building firefighters were met with high heat conditions on the interior of the structure and no visibility. Crews deployed multiple fire attack hose lines in the front and rear of building and established a positive water supply from three nearby hydrants. Firefighters operated in offensive mode to cool down the bulk of the flames from short distances within the building.

With engine crews hard at work controlling the fire, multiple apparatus including ladder trucks and tankers were in place to provide rapid intervention measures if needed, protecting multiple exposures, roof top ventilation and providing rehabilitation sites due to interior and exterior temperatures.

Firefighters quickly made entry inside the structure to conduct a search for victims and to quench the remaining hotspots. There was no one found inside the structure and no life-threatening injuries were reported on fire personnel.

The building was in operation as a nail salon prior to closing on Thursday due to the Covid-19 virus with no reported activities between times with the damages that occurred. The building did incur significant smoke damage and moderate fire damage. The businesses adjacent to the CA Nails did incurred smoke damages.

Clearing the origin and cause investigation with assistance from local and state authorities the origin of fire was narrowed down to an area above a rear storage room and hallway in a space between the first and second level. The cause was determined unspecified electrical.

The primary fire investigator has contacted the renter of the property and the owner is being contacted.

In addition to the incident the Elizabethtown Fire Department and Town of Elizabethtown would like to thank and extend our sincere appreciation to all the agencies that assisted in mitigation to the fire. Your efforts contributed to the successful outcome of the incident reducing risk of damage and loss to other businesses.

Surrounding Agencies that assisted: Bladenboro FD, Clarkton FD, White Lake FD, Carvers Creek FD, Lisbon, White Oak FD, Bay Tree FD, Hickory Grove FD, Ammon FD, Tar Heel FD, Dublin FD, East Howellsville FD, Lumberton FD, St. Pauls FD, Whiteville FD, and Garland FD. Bladen County
EM and EMS division. Bladen County Sheriff office. NC State Bureau. Elizabethtown Rescue Squad and Elizabethtown Police Department

Photos by Charlotte Smith with BladenOnline.com.