Benson’s Bakery likely ‘total loss’ after fire in Oconee County, authorities say
A large factory fire in Oconee County caused the Benson’s Bakery building to collapse, and it is likely a “total loss” for the company and its 400-plus employees, authorities said.
Oconee County Emergency Management Director C.J. Worden said in a Facebook video that a spark lit the insulation of Benson's Bakery in Bogart on fire during maintenance work Monday afternoon.
The fire spread rapidly, and the Oconee County Fire Rescue , Clarke County Fire Rescue and Barrow County Fire Department assisted in putting out the fire, Worden said. There were no injuries as a result of the incident.
In a Facebook Post, Oconee County EMA said "Our hearts go out to the Benson's family as they endure this loss and as they pick up the pieces and recover. This is a major loss also to Oconee County."
The fire was extinguished by 6 p.m., but crews remained later to make sure there weren’t any remaining hot spots, Worden said.
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About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
