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Carolina Courthouse Burns

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Updates and video added, scroll down.

THE CHATHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, COURTHOUSE IS BURNING this Thursday evening in the city of Pittsboro.

pittsboro a WRAL

WRAL-TV

The fire started in the clock tower of the 130-yr.-old building and is believed to have been caused by welders.  The entire building is undergoing renovation and the outside is covered with scaffolding.  The clock tower has a protective tarp wrapped around it and has the effect of preventing outside hose streams from reaching the seat of the fire.

An early report from WRAL-TV Raleigh says,

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire in the upper part of the courthouse around 4:45 p.m., according to city spokeswoman Debra J. Henzey. By 5 p.m., heavy smoke was billowing out of the clock tower, which was covered in scaffolding because of renovation work.

The courthouse had been undergoing major exterior renovations for the past two months, with extensive scaffolding covering the entire building, Henzey said, adding that everyone working in the building was evacuated safely.

“It’s not engulfed but there is going to be some significant damage from the fire,” Pittsboro Mayor Randolph Voller said.

Update #1:
Shortly after our first posting, fire broke through the roof.  The fire is still not under control.

 

pittsboro c WRAL

WRAL-TV

WTVD-TV Ch. 11  has filed this raw video:

The fire was knocked down by 8 pm, but there was flare up afterward.

Hat tip:  Peter T.

Posted by on March 25, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , ,
  • Peter Timken

    6:10 pm, it looks like firefighters are gaining the upper hand, but still much fire visible deep inside the building. Totally defensive still from the exterior. From the live video, no handlines going inside.

    Building built in 1881, in 1990's new courthouse was built across the street where most county records are stored. The old courthouse housed superior court and DA offices.

    Pittsboro is a relatively small town with limited water. Listening on scanner, they are starting tanker operations. Tankers going from our area (30 miles away)

  • Peter Timken

    This is totally unconfirmed, but interesting for the sake of discussion. Just talked with someone that was there prior to the fire starting. He says that many of the 1st floor windows were removed earlier in the day as part of the renovation and were not boarded up, providing plenty of air to the fire on the 3rd floor and attic area.

  • OFD020

    Watching the videos reminds me of a lesson I learned nearly 40 years ago from Manny Fried at his lecture in the city of Auburn NY. He explained that truck mounted deck guns were only effective to the second or third floors because the angle limits the penetration and vertical reach .The same applies to ground based master streams or large bore handlines. This lesson rings even more true in our present day operations because we are more cognizant of the collapse zone . A fire of the magnitude and location the troops faced in N.C today called for large bore aerial streams.To all fighting the fight,stay safe!

  • Peter Timken

    As to my comment above about windows being open/removed: I trust the source that gave me that information. That said, in all the pics I've looked at on two news sites, it appears that windows are intact, and closed. (However, it appears that many of the pics at least on one site, are taken from the South and West sides…makes sense, since that is 'upwind' and not in the smoke for the photographers.)

  • DaGonz

    I wonder if the welders had a permit for hot work and a firewatch detail…

  • DaGonz

    I wonder if the welders had a permit for hot work and a firewatch detail…