Fire destroys Nelson's Garage

A City of Fulton worker uses a backhoe to dig out tin roofing while Fulton Fire Department officials blast the seat of the fire Monday at Nelson's Garage. Fulton Fire also had help from Central Callaway Fire District and Columbia Fire Department.
A City of Fulton worker uses a backhoe to dig out tin roofing while Fulton Fire Department officials blast the seat of the fire Monday at Nelson's Garage. Fulton Fire also had help from Central Callaway Fire District and Columbia Fire Department.

Nelson's Garage is likely a total loss following a major fire Monday morning, Fulton Fire Department Chief Dean Buffington said.

The department responded to a call at about 6:15 a.m. Monday to a fire at the repair shop off Hickman Avenue.

"The Station out on Westminster could see smoke already through the roof," said Buffington. "We hit it with a lot of water hard and fast as quick as we could. It took about an hour before we had it under control."

Buffington said smoke was through the roof and most of the building was involved in flame by the time engines arrived. He said Fulton Fire had help from Central Callaway Fire District and aerial support from the Columbia Fire Department.

City of Fulton workers helped officials dig out parts of the damaged building later that morning as they finished putting out the fire. Fire officials said one firefighter sustained an eye injury while combating the blaze and had been taken to be examined by doctors.

"(The property) is a total loss pretty much," Buffington said. "There's a lot of extra fuel to burn here, a lot of auto parts and wood."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.