WARNER — Two storage buildings destroyed in an early morning fire Thursday fire caused an estimated $100,000 loss, owner Tom Carman told fire officials.
The entire block was destroyed, said Fire Chief Floyd Durosette. He said arson is suspected in the 3:45 a.m. fire, and he called in a state fire marshal to investigate.
The marshal arrived about 2:30 p.m. to meet with police and firefighters and look over the scene of destruction.
The site formerly was known as H.E. Ketchum Lumber Co. Carman bought the property from Ketchum Lumber in September 1998, according to county records.
The main building was 6,600 square feet. Antiques were among the items stored there, Carman told Durosette. Carman also said he had hay stored in the 320-square-foot shed on the property, Durosette said.
Some storage barrels on site that earlier had soy-based candle scent products in them exploded during the fire, waking up the town, Durosette said.
“It was completely engulfed by the time I arrived,” Durosette said. “We believe it was arson.”
Fire fighting units from Porum and Keefeton assisted the Warner Fire Department, Durosette said, adding no one was injured.
The site is off U.S. 64 on the west side of Third Avenue and the north side of Eighth Street, across the street from the Senior Citizens Center.
Carman and his wife, Michelle, had operated Carman’s Candelry in Oklahoma and Arkansas before it closed its large manufacturing plant in Checotah in December 2008.
Reach Donna Hales at 684-2923 or dhales@muskogeephoenix.com.
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Flames burn Thursday morning after a late-night Wednesday blaze that torched an entire block in Warner.
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December 10, 2009
Fire destroys block in Warner
Owner figures damage at $100,000
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