Large workshop in Forsyth Co. destroyed by fire

CUMMING - Forsyth County fire investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a fire at a large workshp in a residential neighborhood on Samples Road Thursday morning.

Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers said calls began coming in at 10:46 a.m. about a large column of smoke visible from Samples Road and Buford Dam Road. Shivers said the fire involved a large workshop, about 2,000-square-feet, behind a home at 2705 Samples Road.

Shivers said the workshop contained a number of vehicles and tools, although he did not have a value on the items, since an investigation remains underway. He said in addition to receiving numerous calls about the fire, 911 operators said many callers reported explosions at the site.

"A lot of things can cause explosions," he said. "Paint cans and tires and accelerants of all kinds, so we did have some of those to deal with."

Shivers said the workshop and contents were destroyed; the nearby home received minor heat damage.

No one was home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries to firefighters, according to Shivers.