Lightning blamed for fire that destroyed historic family-owned mill

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.C. — Fire investigators are looking into the possibility that Wednesday evening's storms started a major blaze at a Mount Pleasant lumber yard.

Highway 49 at Main and Jackson streets had to be shut down as fire crews battled the flames at the Miller Lumber Company at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

It took nearly 50 firefighters, from seven fire departments, to fight the fire, but no one was injured and no evacuations were necessary. The mill sustained extensive damage.

Firefighters believe lightning sparked the fire at the historic family-owned lumber company. They arrived at 10 a.m. Thursday to continue their investigation.

A woman who lives nearby said she heard the lightning strike.

"All of the sudden there was a massive boom. It sounded like a Mack truck hitting a freight train. The ground shook; my trailer shook," said Darlene Duty.

Neighbors said Miller Lumber has been in Mount Pleasant since 1889. It's a family company and only has three employees.

Early Thursday, many neighbors stopped by to offer their condolences to Arthur and Lee Kluttz, the father and son who own Miller Lumber Company. The pair had just gotten their first chance to see how much damage was done by the fire. The company has been around since 1889.

Arthur Kluttz's 89-year-old father told Eyewitness News he had worked at the lumber yard since he was in his teens. He said the family is still trying to figure out what their next step will be.

Darlene Duty was at home riding out Wednesday night’s thunderstorm.

“All of the sudden about 6:32 there was a massive boom,” she said. "It sounded like a Mack truck hitting a freight train. The ground shook, my trailer shook."

Duty was one of several people from the small town who came and watched as nearly 50 firefighters worked to get the fire under control.

Sherry Olson lives on Broad Street which leads right up to the lumber company.

"I saw billowing smoke from that area, the streets were closed down,” Olson said.

She couldn't get back to her house last night because of how many fire trucks were in her street.

"It makes me sad for the company and the people,” Olson said.

The owners didn't want to go on cam, but Arthur Kluttz said the building has been in the family for decades. He is 89 years old and started working here when he was barely in his teens.

WSOC