Attic fire damages 19th-century building on Savannah riverfront

SAVANNAH - Fire broke out in the attic of an antiques shop on Savannah&#39;s cobblestone riverfront Thursday, causing heavy smoke and water damage to the converted 19-century cotton warehouse. <br> <br> Brick fire walls built into the attic kept the flames from spreading to neighboring buildings along River Street, a popular tourist hangout lined with restaurants and souvenir shops. <br> <br> No one was injured. Rosemary Newman, owner of Southern Ladies Hidden Treasures, said she was showing a customer some jewelry when she smelled smoke coming from the attic atop the four-story building. <br> <br> ``I went upstairs and looked. The boards, you can see through the little slits in between, and it was all orange flames,&#39;&#39; Newman said. <br> <br> Firefighters punched holes in the roof to cool down the blaze, sending tufts of smoke over the riverfront while tourists gawked from behind yellow police tape. The fire was contained within an hour. <br> <br> The cause of the fire was unknown, said Savannah Fire Department spokeswoman Darlene Tuccillo. Newman said the attic was empty and she suspects faulty wiring sparked the blaze. <br> <br> The building, which Newman said was built in 1854, houses several gift shops, two restaurants and a psychic-reading business. Tuccillo said all the businesses suffered heavy smoke damage, but most of the water damage was contained to the upper floor. <br> <br> Newman estimated her shop could suffer a total loss, except for some glass pieces and jewelry. <br> <br> It&#39;s the second time in 17 days emergency crews have been called to the riverfront. On May 28, part of a parking lot on a floating dock collapsed into the Savannah River, but there were no injuries.

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