Fire damages location for pub
Restaurant planned to open in March
By Bobby Moore
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Officials from the Douglas County Fire Department/EMS said the cause of a Thursday morning fire at the Irish Bred Pub under construction adjacent to O’Neal Plaza in downtown Douglasville, is still under investigation.
Main Street Manager Stephanie Aylworth said she noticed smoke coming from the future restaurant’s building around 8 a.m. Thursday, and alerted the fire department.
When firefighters arrived, the blaze was on the second story of the building. Investigator Steve Tate of the fire department said it appears the fire spread into the space between the first and second story.
Main Street Manager Stephanie Aylworth said she noticed smoke coming from the future restaurant’s building around 8 a.m. Thursday, and alerted the fire department.
When firefighters arrived, the blaze was on the second story of the building. Investigator Steve Tate of the fire department said it appears the fire spread into the space between the first and second story.
“It was a stubborn fire, being in an old building that had been renovated several times,” said Fire Chief Scott Spencer.
No injuries have been reported, Spencer said.
Since the fire spread east toward the Miller Architecture and Planning building, Terry Miller said his employees could not work in their office early Thursday morning for safety reasons. Instead, they set up temporarily in the Douglasville Welcome Center while firefighters took preventative measures.
“The fire department took out some ceiling tiles shared by our building and the pub so they could check for smoke or fire damage,” Miller said.
Miller said his employees were back in their office by 10:30 a.m.
Aylworth said the building, formerly known as O’Neal’s Drug Store, was built in 1885.
“There was a fair amount of damage to the building,” said Tate, adding that the damage was mostly confined to one room.
Officials said it is too soon to estimate a dollar figure regarding damages to the building, or how this will effect the Pub’s goal to open in March.
“We’re waiting to see the damages... but this will definitely delay things,” Aylworth said.
Officials said it is too soon to estimate a dollar figure regarding damages to the building, or how this will effect the Pub’s goal to open in March.
“We’re waiting to see the damages... but this will definitely delay things,” Aylworth said.
Because of the fire, a section of Bankhead Highway was closed off by the Douglasville Police Department between 8-10:30 a.m.
Tate said he expects the investigation to last a couple of days.
Tate said he expects the investigation to last a couple of days.
What a bummer. I was looking forward to their opening soon. Hopefully they can get back on track quickly. Thanks for posting this.
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