A fire broke out behind Orme-West Do It Best Hardware Friday, June 12. The New Concord Fire Department was dispatched at 12:49 p.m.
Two storage garages beside the hardware store that held bird seed, fertilizer and rental equipment burned where the fire started. The cause is unknown, and the fire is under investigation.
The New Concord Fire Truck 901 calmed the flames as two garages beside Orme-West Do It Best Hardware burned.
When NCFD arrived at the scene, the fire engulfed the garage where the fire originated. There were power lines and propane tanks present near the fire, which presented danger to the surrounding area.
All employees, customers, and nearby residents were evacuated and there were no injuries.
New Concord Fire Department Chief Brett Gates said “We were able to secure everything. AEP [American Electric Power] did a super job shutting down the power for us and we were able to get into it [the fire] and get our ladder truck up to blast the fire and hold the damage to two garages.”
The hardware building did have some heat and smoke damage, but according to Gates, the business will soon be able to continue their operations.
Reporter Dana Parsons gave a live update on WMCO 90.7 at 1:55 p.m.
Along with the New Concord Fire Department, on the scene were Washington Township Fire Department, Perry Township Fire Department, Falls Township Fire Department, Cassell Station Volunteer Fire Department, and Cambridge Fire Department.
Perry Township was one of many other departments called in for the fire.
Also on the scene included the New Concord Police Department, Muskingum University Police, Guernsey County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Chief Mindy Peck of the New Concord Police Department said she saw the fire before the police department was dispatched.
“I saw smoke, so I came down the hill then I saw the big fire ball,” said Peck.
Power along Main Street as well as traffic lights went out. Many New Concord residents were out of power. NCPD, Muskingum University Police, and the State Highway Patrol monitored and directed traffic until the power along downtown returned.
The New Concord Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire beside Orme-West Do It Best Hardware in New Concord.
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Updated June 12, 2020, 6:35 p.m.
