Fire at Baldwin pawn shop ruled accidental

BALDWIN — The fire that destroyed Diamond Jewelry & Pawn on Ga. 365 in Baldwin Saturday has been ruled accidental.

The fire "appears to have started in the front entrance of the store, in the area of the store sign and light cans," said Glenn Allen, spokesman for the state fire marshal's office. "High winds helped to fuel the flames."

State, federal and local officials and investigators remained on scene until 5:30 p.m. Sunday going over the scene.

The business, owned by Steve Diamond, suffered extensive damage in the fire that was reported around 5 p.m. Saturday.

The lengthy firefighting effort also shut down Ga. 365 in both directions for more than five hours as firefighters utilized a hydrant in front of Patrol Upfitters on the southbound side of the highway.

Personnel and equipment from five departments responded, remaining on scene until early Sunday.

Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace said firefighters used some 660,000 gallons of water battling the blaze, noting he appreciated help from the City of Cornelia's water department.

Investigators say the fire that destroyed Diamond Jewelry & Loan on Ga. 365 in Baldwin Saturday started near the entrance and was fueled by high winds.

Baldwin firefighters use a ladder truck to spray water on the front of the building Saturday night.

Firefighters from Baldwin, Cornelia, Habersham County, White County and Lee Arrendale State Prison worked for hours to extinguish a blaze at Diamond Jewelry & Loan in Baldwin Saturday.

Firefighters on the south end of the building relied on water shuttled from a hydrant at Thompson Road near Dairy Queen.

Officers from Baldwin, Alto and Mt. Airy police departments and the Habersham County Sheriff's Office shut down Ga. 365 for more than five hours while firefighters utilized a hydrant across the highway to provide water to the Cornelia Fire Department ladder truck located near the back of the burning structure.

An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) surveys the entryway to Diamond Jewelry & Loan in Baldwin on Sunday.

A vehicle parked in front of Diamond Jewelry & Loan was destroyed in Saturday's fire.

Federal, state and local authorities spent Sunday investigating the scene of Saturday's fire at Diamond Jewelry & Loan on Ga. 365 in Baldwin.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/4/386486/fire-at-baldwin-pawn-shop-ruled-accidental