An early Saturday fire that Douglas County authorities have labeled as “suspicious” destroyed a century-old, dilapidated cotton mill that has stood vacant for many years.
The overnight fire at the General Western Cotton Mill on East Broad Street (Bankhead Highway) in Douglasville resulted in no injuries, according to Wes Tallon, a spokesman for the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.
A section of East Broad was closed because of thick smoke for parts of the morning, but the road reopened around 9:45 a.m. A Norfolk-Southern rail line also reopened around 2:30 a.m. after a brief closure.
Officials said Douglas County Fire and emergency medical personnel were on the scene just after midnight and found the massive structure completely engulfed.
The fire department decided to let the fire burn itself out and focused on protecting nearby properties.
Tallon said the fire appears to be suspicious as the building, overgrown for years by vegetation, was unoccupied. No lightning was reported overnight, he said.
Firefighters continued to deal with hotspots, and the heat from the fire and the precarious condition of the remaining structure will likely keep investigators out of the building until at least Monday, Tallon told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
About the Author
