Local

Fire at lumber company suspected as arson, officials say

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — Fire heavily damaged a lumber company in Alexander County on Friday morning.   
               
Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set.  
 
The fire was so big neighbors said it could be seen from some distance.   They called 911 Friday morning after waking up to the sound of two explosions that sounded like dynamite going off. 
 
Doug Bolick showed Channel 9 some of the equipment destroyed by the early-morning fire.  
 
Not only was his equipment damaged but the main building at Costner's Lumber, south of Taylorsville, is gone. 
 
Sheriff's deputies believe someone set the fire after possibly broke into the business to steal equipment. 
 
"Just pray and if they know anything give us a call help us out and call the Alexander County sheriffs department," Bolick said.
 
A neighbor shared pictures of the fire that started shortly after 2 a.m. The damages are estimated at more than $100,000.   Without the equipment, the lumber yard is out of business for now and could stay that way for the next month.
 
Some workers aren't sure how they and their families will  get by in an area hard hit by job losses.  
 
"I was really counting on this. We all was. What work we got, this is it," said employee Roy Jones.
 
"It is going to be rough on us making it because bills don't stop coming in," said employee Charles Coffey.
 
Bollick said the cleanup won't start until after the weekend. Fortunately, most of the lumber was not destroyed by this fire.