Sprinkler system saves Hackney

Published 3:53 am Tuesday, October 3, 2017

A sprinkler system saved an Opp business that caught fire on Sunday morning.

H.T. Hackney, a wholesale distribution center, experienced a fire in its front office area.

Opp Fire Chief Cory Spurlin said fire fighters were dispatched around 11 a.m. Sunday.

“Engine 7 arrived on the scene first, and there was smoke showing from the front office area,” he said. “I was behind them, and I requested mutual aid from Andalusia, Onycha, Babbie and Elba because there was approximately 400,000 square feet in the facility.”

Spurlin said that the fire was inside the wall in the office stairwell, and the sprinkler system kept it held at bay, but there was moderate to heavy damage in the area.

Spurlin said they got the fire under control at 11:30 a.m.

“There was a lot of smoke in the downstairs and upstairs areas of the office,” he said. “We were able to hold it to the office area, and helped with ventilating and getting hot spots under control. We also helped the company get debris cleaned up.”

Spurlin said there were no injuries reported, and that there were employees present when the fire occurred.

“The fire alarm worked, and everyone was safe and accounted for,” he said.