By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeepost.com
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EAST ROCKINGHAM — What started out as a controlled burn by a private homeowner got away early Friday afternoon and destroyed at least three vehicles in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office impound lot.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Volunteer firefighters from East Rockingham and Cordova, along with personnel from the North Carolina Forest Service, responded to what was first reported as an outside fire that consumed about 2 acres. The call came in at 1:05 p.m. and the building, along with more than a dozen vehicles, were at risk at the James Hand Road facility in East Rockingham. The fire began next door at 164 James Hand Road.
The facility is home to the Richmond County Water and Maintenance departments and the vehicle maintenance garage.
A FirstHealth EMS ambulance also responded to the scene, but it was believed that anyone required treatment.
As first-responders arrived on scene — Forest Service and East Rockingham first, then Cordova as mutual aid — the venture escalated to at least three vehicles and part of a shell warehouse building inside the fenced-in-perimeter, complete with barbed wire at the top.
County Ranger Matt Gordon, with the Forest Service, said he planned to either issue a warning or a citation to the unidentified property owner. The Pee Dee Post was required to file a written request for a copy of the document, Gordon said. The Forest Service office in Rockingham appeared to be closed Friday, the day after Christmas, so the Post was unable to immediately submit the request.
All units had cleared the scene by 2:24 p.m.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
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