A fire severely damaged six buildings along Main Street in downtown Walhalla early Thursday morning, damaging a row of longtime local businesses. The blaze broke out around 3 a.m. between South College and South Catherine streets and burned for nearly seven hours before crews knocked it down.
The fire damaged Alexander's Coffee House, Carolina Pizza, Middle of Main, and a Mexican restaurant, along with the surrounding structures, according to the seed story reported by Greenville News. Local radio station 101.7 WGOG reported that the fire was knocked down after nearly seven hours of work.
The fire caused extensive damage to a stretch of storefronts, a major blow to buildings that anchor the city's small commercial core.
No Injuries Reported Despite Hours-Long Fight
No one was reported hurt in the fire. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office also reported the multi-building structure fire in downtown Walhalla, according to the Greenville News account, as crews worked at the scene.
Highway 28 was blocked between North and South Catherine Street and North and South Tugaloo Street as fire department personnel and equipment occupied the roadway, emergency services officials said, according to the Greenville News report. Motorists were asked to avoid the area while the roadway remained blocked and crews continued their work at the scene.
A Volunteer-Heavy Department Facing a Major Test
Firefighters faced a significant test as the blaze affected multiple buildings and required nearly seven hours of work.
The extended response required crews to work for nearly seven hours as they battled the fire.
A Pattern of Major Fires Along Main Street
Thursday's fire adds to the challenges faced by Walhalla's historic downtown corridor.
Walhalla is a small Oconee County city, and businesses affected by the fire were located on Main Street.
What Comes Next for Downtown Walhalla
The exact cause and point of origin of Thursday's fire have not been determined, and further assessment will be needed.
Highway 28 was blocked while crews worked at the scene. The fire damaged a block of downtown buildings.
