A historic Natchez building was engulfed in flames early Sunday morning.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a resident who reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area. According to Natchez Fire Department Chief Robert Arrington, the fire began in the basement of the Delta Fuel Headquarters building around 5:00 a.m.
Natchez firefighters responded to the scene, but weren’t able to put out the fire immediately.
“Our guys were able to make entry, and we discovered that the fire was coming from the basement of the building. We tried to enter into the basement, but conditions weren’t safe. The fire had been burning for too long,” Arrington said.
Arrington’s crew pivoted to a “defensive” strategy and aimed to contain the fire to the inside of the building. They were successful in doing so, keeping the fire from spreading outside to other buildings.
The city of Vidalia’s mayor and fire department arrived shortly after the fire broke out to provide help in Natchez, according to Mayor Dan Gibson. In addition, the Natchez Police Department and even some retired firefighters showed up to provide help.
“We love what we do, they love this city, so they came out and gave us a big hand,” Arrington said.
Once the fire was cornered and relatively contained, the fire departments were able to begin addressing the hot spots throughout the building’s interior.
“The roof and second floor have collapsed, so we’re dealing with fire underneath all of that,” Arrington said.
All of the building’s occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, thanks to the effort of the first responders.
“This building is compromised, but we were able to keep everybody safe,” Arrington continued.
Gibson says he is currently working on finding a temporary home for the 50 employees who will be displaced as a result of this fire, so that the workers at Delta Fuel don’t miss a beat.
“I believe we have some great strategies in mind and we hope to have some good news for them,” Gibson said. “We don’t want to lose Delta Fuel from Natchez; they’re too great an employer.”
The future of the building, built in the late 1800s, is on a positive trajectory despite the fire, according to Gibson.
“This building, being a historic building, qualifies for tax credits. That will make it restorable,” he said. “The money can be made available for restoration. The building is also well insured, so we are hopeful that this building can be renovated.”
The circumstances surrounding the fire’s origin are still under investigation, but the fire has been dealt with properly to limit the damage.
