Fire guts future home of doctors

By Elizabeth Green
Diversity Institute Fellow

08.13.04

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An abandoned building undergoing renovation at the corner of 27 Avenue and Delaware was completely gutted after catching fire Wednesday afternoon.

The site was a former mill that was being renovated for a group of doctors, Fire Chief Jerry Upchurch said.

Upchurch said the 12:45 p.m. fire likely started when workers were cutting steel pipe that become too hot.

John Templeton, superintendent of IKON Construction in Brentwood, said the subcontractors had been working on the building since Monday.

Nine people were inside the building when it caught fire. Templeton said the workers had already cleaned the building.

"The post beams and the floor above were swept clean," he said.

The workers were subcontracting with another company that specializes in demolition work, Templeton said.

Their supervisor declined to comment on advice of his attorney.

Templeton said one of the workers ran up to him and yelled fire. He said he told everybody to get out and called 911.

Firefighter Barry Byers said the building was a "total loss."

Upchurch said firefighters will remain on the scene as long as flames are visible.

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