Fire crews battled a massive blaze Wednesday at a southwest Atlanta dollar store where five people were able to escape safely.
When Atlanta firefighters arrived at a Family Dollar in the 2100 block of Campbellton Road, heavy fire could be seen from the left side of the store front, a video tweeted by the department shows. Fire crews initiated a defensive operation as they began putting out flames around 11:30 a.m.
The fire began near the front of the store while four employees and a customer were inside, Atlanta fire spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford told Channel 2 Action News. The mother of an employee told the news station that the fire was caused by hand sanitizer spilling onto a wire.
“We definitely believe this fire started accidentally,” Stafford told Channel 2.
Working fire at Family Dollar store located at 2178 Campbellton Rd. Defensive operation. Heavy fire showing on front of store on arrival. All hands working. #AFRD pic.twitter.com/DTal1nGQgy
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) July 21, 2021
The employees attempted to put out the fire, but soon hurried out of the store after realizing help was needed, Channel 2 reported. All those inside were able to make it out safely.
“The employees did try to put it out, but they were unsuccessful in that and they made the right decision to get everyone out of the store,” Stafford told Channel 2.
Crews were able to move inside the building around noon, a tweet from the department confirmed. The fire was mostly extinguished by 12:30 p.m.
Credit: NewsChopper 2
Credit: NewsChopper 2
Atlanta police and firefighters returned to the scene around 5 p.m. to check on any leftover smoldering spots, Channel 2 reported.
Authorities are unsure if the building can be rebuilt and restocked to eventually reopen in the same location, the news station said.
