A landmark florist in downtown Chadbourn burned to the ground Tuesday morning.
Old Town Florist, on First Avenue, was destroyed when a lithium battery caught fire, Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman said.
An employee of the shop heard a smoke alarm and went to investigate around 9 a.m., Blackman said. He told firefighters that he found a burning glue gun and knocked it down it with a fire extinguisher, then called 911 after the fire was out. The blaze returned, and was centered around a lithium ion battery that was charging in the shop. He then called 911 a second time.
Flames were visible when firefighters arrived a short time later. The building was a total loss, Blackman said.
“A regular ABC fire extinguisher will not put out a lithium battery,” Blackman said, noting that the battery was sparking when firefighters entered the building. “You need one designed for extinguishing that particular type of fire.”
Because of the close proximity of the flower show to an auto body repair business, as well as other businesses downtown, firefighters took extra precautions to prevent the blaze from spreading to other structures.
Chadbourn and Klondyke fire crews were assisted by Cerro Gordo, Tabor City, Acme-Delco-Riegelwood, Whiteville, Fair Bluff, Roseland and Lake Waccamaw, and other stations.
