Cause Of Georgia Theatre Fire Still Unknown

Investigators say they still have not been able to pinpoint a cause of the fire that gutted an Athens landmark nearly a week ago. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were joined by state and local officials the past couple of days in sifting through the burned-out remains of the Georgia Theatre. Now investigators turn to interviewing witnesses. Officials say no information will be released until all agencies involved come to consensus as to the cause of the blaze.

Investigation Into Georgia Theatre Fire Opens

Authorities open an investigation this morning as to what caused a massive fire that gutted the landmark Georgia Theatre in Athens. The Friday blaze after 7 that morning destroyed the building in the downtown area, known to many as a major player in the Athens and southeast music scene.

Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the state fire marshal's office and the local fire department are expected to work the scene Monday. Officials do not suspect foul play, but are not ruling-out arson.

Fire Destroys Athens' Georgia Theatre

An Athens landmark steeped in history was destroyed by fire early this morning, as the Georgia Theatre went up in flames. Dozens of firefighters with engines and ladder trucks responded to the scene in downtown Athens around 7am--by the time they had control of the blaze an hour later, the building was gutted. Officials do not yet have a cause for the fire.

The Theatre dates back to the late 1800’s. Through its history it was used as a cinema, and since the 1970’s, it’s been a major player in the Athens music scene.

Sandy Turner with Athens-Clarke County government told WGAU Radio in Athens she’s still trying to absorb the loss:

"That’s one of these places that you just take for granted...(the loss)will be great."

The Georgia Theatre was scheduled to host 11 musical acts during next weekend’s Ath-Fest. Organizers are working to reschedule them to different locations.

Fire Strikes Athens Landmark

Reports are coming in this morning of a major fire at The Georgia Theatre. The building is a converted cinema which is now used as a music venue in town, and considered an Athens landmark. Many well known bands have played there, including REM and the B-52’s.

Witnesses tell the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the fire began around 7am and appeared major. The president of the Athens-Area Chamber of Commerce tells the paper the blaze appeared to have burned through the roof of the theater. In his words, Doc Eldridge says the building "is gone."

Columbus Woman Could Face 20 Yrs. Over Fort Benning Fire

A 30-year-old Columbus woman accused of setting fire to the Judge Advocate General’s office at nearby Fort Benning two weeks ago, has been indicted and linked to the arson by DNA evidence.

If convicted, Shawana Topekia Pierce, a former employee at the JAG office, could face five to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Officials say Pierce is a suspect in a theft case, and that files about her were in the office, which was totally destroyed, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Fort Benning: Firefighter walking in front of the inferno which had been JAG headquarters on Feb. 6. (Photo: The Bayonet)

Click here for previous GPB News coverage of this story.

Woman Accused in Fort Benning Fire Denied Bond

Firefighter walking in front of the inferno, which had been JAG headquarters at Fort Benning. (Photo: The Bayonet)

A woman accused of setting a fire that burned down the Judge Advocate General's office at Fort Benning has been denied bond.

U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth issued the ruling on Friday against Shawana Topekia Pierce, a Fort Benning employee.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Flanagan said Pierce knew she was a suspect in a theft of government property case and that files about her were in the office at the time of the Feb. 6 fire.

The structure was totally destroyed in the blaze.

Defense attorney Mike Reynolds argued that while the accusations against Pierce are serious, they don't make her a flight risk.

Faircloth said he's concerned that Pierce had packed her car before she was arrested, making it appear she was ready to flee. He ordered her held until her next court appearance on Thursday.

Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of this story.

ATF Doubles Reward on Ft. Benning Blaze Info

Remains of the JAG office. Click on the image for more photos. (Photo: Lily Gordon, Ledger-Enquirer.com)

Federal and military authorities are probing a suspicious blaze that destroyed the Judge Advocate General’s office at Fort Benning, near Columbus in West Georgia.

Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are looking for evidence in the charred remains of the 10,000 sq.-ft. building, which went up in flames on Friday.

The ATF announced Tuesday afternoon that they are adding an additional $5,000 to the $5,000 reward offered earlier by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) for information on the fire.

Special agent Scott Sweetlow of the BATF National Response Team says the're looking for what sparked the blaze:

“...we're trying to develop a full picture with the use of our accelerant-detection canines, and our chemists. We're collecting evidence, but as a general principle we don't make any sort of a determination until we've got all of the facts in hand.”

If investigators find traces of an accelerant, it may indicate arson.

Former staff judge advocate and former Columbus mayor Bob Poydasheff worked at the office in the 1960's and 70's. He was stunned by the loss:

"It's just absolutely devastating to see. ...an historic building destroyed for what purpose? ... it's just unfair; it's stupid, it's just unfair."

Fort Benning emergency service director Lt. Col. Kevin Clarke says 35 Columbus and Fort Benning firefighters battled the fire, which they got under control around 1 a.m. Saturday.

After viewing the site on Sunday, and speaking with officials, Poydasheff says he has little doubt as to the cause:

"I've been told that there were some propane tanks, and so the way it presented itself - the entire building - there's no doubt in my mind; it was arson."

Sweetow declined to confirm or deny whether propane tanks were found among the ruins of the building.

Sweetow says they expect to conclude their investigation by Friday.

Senior JAG attorney Col. Tracy Barnes believe they'll be able to recover most of their digitally-stored files on the office's network server, computers and e-mail.

"We're certainly aware, that as part of the justice system - the federal court system, there's some critical records that are there," Sweetow said.

Barnes says no evidence was kept in the structure, and that the fire will not affect pending cases.

Post officials have relocated basic legal services to another office for the interim.

The 10,000 sq.-ft. JAG office is the second oldest building on post, and provides legal services for infantry troops and their families at the 184,000-acre training base.

The structure houses a law library, archives, and the courtroom where Army Lt. William Calley was convicted in the murder of 22 Vietnamese citizens at My Lai in 1968. That case was later overturned.

Officials have requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact CID at 706-545-8915 or e-mail CID at crimetips@conus.army.mil, or ATF's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473).

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Fort Benning.

Oxendine: Sylvester Plant Fire Accidental

State Fire and Insurance officials say a fire that gutted a peanut warehouse in Sylvester one week ago has been ruled accidental. The determination is a welder’s torch sparked the blaze, which resulted in an estimated loss of $3.5 million dollars to the Farm Commodities Peanut Warehouse. The loss includes 2,300 tons of peanuts destroyed.

Police: former fire chief stole from county

The former fire chief in Arnoldsville in northeast Georgia's Oglethorpe County faces theft charges. Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents took 33-year-old Joe Siegert into custody on Monday. Authorities allege last July, Siegert pocketed $50,000 in grant money that was awarded to the town's volunteer fire department.

Progress made in battling Cumberland fire

State forestry officials say they are making progress in fighting a blaze burning into its second week on Cumberland Island. A spokesperson says more than 100 firefighters have about 35-percent containment on the fire. The blaze has charred more than 1,600 acres on the island's northern side. The fire is believed to have been sparked by a pair of lightning strikes on June 22nd. Cumberland Island has remained open to visitors.

Cumberland Island fire update

The Cumberland Island fire continues to burn, over a week after it was ignited by a lightning strike in a wilderness area on the northern end of the island. The Savannah Morning News reports from officials this morning that up to 30 structures are being threatened, including the historic First African Baptist Church. Over 1,600 acres have been charred. Officials say the blaze is about 30-percent contained.

Fire burning on Cumberland Island

Georgia Forestry Commission officials confirm this morning that over 1,600 acres of federally-protected land has burned on Cumberland Island. Officials do not have an estimated time for containment of the blaze. The fire is burning on the northern end of the island, and is believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike last week. There are no reports of damage to structures or injuries. The National Park Service operates the island--officials say ferry service and operations on the island's south side are running normally.

Blaze in northwest Cobb County kills 14 horses

14 horses were killed in a barn fire late Thursday night in northwest Cobb County. Firefighters were called to the scene around 11pm and found the barn fully engulfed in flames. A Cobb fire spokesman says the fire appears accidental, but because of the amount of damage, time will be needed for a final determination of cause. The owner’s of the barn provide boarding services for horses. Officials say it’s unclear how many horses belonged to the owners, and the number belonging to others boarding their animals there.

Fire specialists to attack refinery blazes

Fires that have burned for six days at a Savannah-area sugar refinery will be attacked by specialized firefighting teams today.

Three fires ignited yesterday at the destroyed Imperial Sugar Company plant, due to molten sugar smoldering at temperatures as high as four-thousand degrees. Officials fear a larger blaze could break out again.

The refinery in Port Wentworth exploded Thursday night, injuring dozens. 17 people remain hospitalized at an Augusta burn center--15 critically. Six people are confirmed dead from the blast, while two workers remain missing.

Firefighters still battle sugar fire

A helicopter dumped thousands of gallons of river water onto a gutted sugar refinery. It was trying to douse a smoldering fire that burned more deeply than officials first thought.

But after hours of work, officials made plans to bring in a private fire fighter team to put out the blaze at the Imperial Sugar plant, where six workers died and two remained missing.

Officials say the silos were at temperatures up to 4,000 degrees, and the crews were able to reduce the temperature of molten sugar to about 2,800 degrees.

Seventeen workers remained hospitalized today at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta -- 16 in critical condition with severe burns.

Survivors struggling after refinery conflagration

Seventeen workers injured in the explosion on Thursday at the Imperial Sugar refinery near Savannah remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition with severe burns. Three others were released Sunday, said Beth Frits of the Joseph M. Burn Center in Augusta.

One of the critically injured, 49-year-old Gene Daniel Bryan Jr., moved his head Sunday in response to relatives, even though he was in a medically induced coma, said his sister, Penny Daley.

Bryan, a supervisor, led several of his employees to an exit but they had to flee down a staircase that was engulfed in flames, Daley said in a telephone interview.

"It's hard to say it makes it all worth it, but I'm just glad to say he was able to help somebody," Daley said.

Sugar that was still burning three days after the refinery explosion that killed at least five people hampered the search for three other workers, missing since the blast leveled portions of the plant.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the chronology of events at the plant since Thursday.

(The Associated Press)

Savannah refinery blast UPDATE

Smoke still billows Friday Feb. 8, 2008, from a section of the Imperial Sugar Company plant after an explosion last night ripped apart the plant on the Savannah River in Port Wentworth, Ga. Six people are uncounted for and more than 50 people were taken to hospitals, and some of them were airlifted to a burn center in Augusta, Ga., 130 miles up the Savannah River. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Authorities in Savannah say the search for missing people after an explosion last night at a sugar refinery will now turn to recovery.

Savannah’s police chief said late this morning authorities expect to find fatalities inside the Imperial Sugar plant. Early reports indicated there were six people missing—Chief Michael Berkow said there could be more.

More than 50 people are now reported injured from the refinery blast, which occurred a little before 8 o’clock last night in the nearby Savannah suburb of Port Wentworth, along the Savannah River. 18 of the injured were airlifted to a burn center 130 miles away in Augusta--most are in critical condition. An 11:30 news conference was scheduled there for updates.

As of late morning, firefighters were still not able to get inside the four-story refinery building due to fires still burning, and the instability of the structure.


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Authorities suspect that sugar dust, often volatile, may be the cause of the blast.

Savannah refinery blast injures dozens, 6 missing

Six workers at a sugar refinery near Savannah are unaccounted for this morning after an explosion that injured at least 40-people, some critically.

The explosion happened around 8pm last night in a holding area for refined sugar at the Imperial Sugar Company’s massive plant just north of Savannah. The blast sent at least eight workers to a regional burn center in Augusta and pressed into service first responders region-wide. Matthew Stanley of the Savannah Fire Department says, fire-fighters suspended their search for missing workers when it became too dangerous.

"The structure is heavily damaged. It’s just not a good area for our crews to be working, particularly at night. It’s just not safe for them. And they have searched everywhere they possibly can in the areas where they can get. Hopefully, at first light, we can get a better idea of what we’re working with and get crews back in there".

Authorities won’t speculate on what caused the explosion, but they say, the fire is structural, not chemical. They expected still to be fighting the blaze this morning, due to its size. The building it engulfed is described as several hundred thousand square feet.

Fire-fighters strained local water supplies last night trying to quell the massive blaze in the town of Port Wentworth, just a few miles upriver from downtown Savannah. Jeff Farmberg of the town’s public works department said, some residents around the sugar refinery might not have full water service while crews are still on-scene.

"What I would like to do is ask anybody in Port Wentworth that is on the north side of I-95 that are experiencing any type of low water pressure just to deal with it for now. We’re experiencing some water pressure issues up in that area because we’re having to diver water this direction".

Tug boats on the Savannah River were helping to pump water to about forty fire-fighters working in rotating crews from aerial trucks. Traffic at the Port of Savannah was suspended and more than 5-hundred students at nearby Port Wentworth Elementary School were told to stay home today.

Millions of pecans burn

Millions of pounds of Georgia’s pecans are up in flames in south Georgia. The fire, which began Tuesday afternoon, engulfed two warehouses of Camilla Commodity Services, Inc., in Mitchell County. Officials say the fire is under control, though it is still burning today. Firefighters from several counties have been helping fight the blaze.

Mitchell County schools have been closed since Tuesday afternoon due to low water pressure from the firefighting efforts. Local news outlets are reporting early estimates of 8 to 10 million pounds of pecans lost in the fire. That’s roughly 5 to 7 percent of this year’s bumper pecan crop in Georgia. A pecan expert at UGA estimates Georgia farmers harvested 140 million pounds of pecans this season. There’s no word on the cause of the fire. Neither the Camilla Fire Chief nor a spokesman for the company could be reached for comment.

Blaze at Dalton mosque site termed 'suspicious'

A fire that destroyed a mosque under construction in Dalton is under investigation by authorities. The blaze is being called "suspicious" by officials. Fire officials say graffiti with expletives was found inside the burned-out shell of the three bedroom brick house that was to be the future home of the Dalton Islamic Center. Construction on the facility began in early December, even with opposition from local residents concerned the mosque would bring traffic problems. 80 people currently attend sevices at a smaller facility.