SUMTER, S.C. — Officials say a large fire at a vacant industrial building is out after burning for hours overnight.
A spokesperson for the Sumter Fire Department said the call came in around 10:25 p.m. to a former roofing facility near the corner of Dingle and South Sumter streets. Authorities said the roughly 20,000-square-foot building, which was constructed of heavy wood with a brick facade, was already burning heavily when they arrived, and the fire was spreading quickly.
Between 50 and 60 firefighters battled the fire, which took roughly an hour and a half to bring under control due to the construction and old materials left inside the building. Fire crews remained on the scene until around 6 a.m., officials said. During the response, Sumter Fire also advised drivers to avoid the area.
While that building was considered a total loss, fire crews protected another nearby industrial building and a crematorium which were both at risk due to the fire.
Officials reported no injuries during the fire. The cause is still under investigation.