Oliver Springs thrift store fire does extensive damage to other businesses

Oliver Springs thrift store fire does extensive damage to other businesses

By JAMIE LYNN DROHAN
6 News Reporter

OLIVER SPRINGS (WATE) -- A fire that started in an Oliver Springs thrift store early Monday morning did extensive damage to other businesses in the same building.

The store is at 39 Edmonds Drive in a 23,000 square foot building. The call about the fire came in around 1:00 a.m.

The Oliver Springs Fire Department, the Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department worked together to put out the fire.

Nearby residents said the thrift store had only been open a few weeks.

Building owner Bill Kees it has three tenants and four store fronts, one of which is vacant.

Kees said the person he feels most sorry for is Lynn Gregory, the woman who owns Magic Fingers Salon, which was destroyed.

Oliver Springs Fire Chief Terry Phillips said a man met him at the door of the thrift store and told him where the fire started.

Phillips said it's unclear whether the man was staying at the store and if he was burning anything.

Fire officials aren't sure yet what caused the fire, but they know it originated in the back of the thrift store.

The building received smoke and fire damage. The extent of loss and total damage haven't been assessed yet.

The Family Dollar, in front of the thrift store, also has smoke and fire damage.

6 News tried several times to contact the owner of the thrift store, but never got a response.