This was a major news event in Georgia. It was covered by radio, TV and newspaper. Since the fire department closed the streets around the theater, it was even on the traffic reports. We visited two days after the fire. The streets in front of the theater was still closed, officials were still waiting for the interior of the building to cool down before starting their investigation in to the cause of the fire.
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7/19/2009
“A major fire erupted Friday at the Georgia Theatre, an Athens landmark and center of the local music scene.
The fire, which began around 7 a.m., inflicted major damage to the building.
Athens-Clarke County Fire Chief Chuck Gulley said the fire was contained but that the roof of the building had collapsed. He said there was no evidence that anyone was in the building when the fire broke out around 7 a.m.
“It’s a sad day for downtown Athens,” said Gulley. “It’s an iconic landmark.”
In a late morning briefing, Gulley said that the first arriving units reported heavy flames in the building and called for backup.
About 50 firefighters responded to the fire, and had the flames contained by 8 a.m., Gulley said.
Gulley said the cause of the fire had not been determined. “It may be a while before we know,” he said.
Smoke continued to waft through the downtown area just before 10 a.m., making breathing difficult.
Georgia Power had cut electricity to the entire downtown area at the request of the fire department, and none of the traffic lights were working. The county courthouse about three blocks away was shut down Friday morning because of the power outage.
Wilmot Greene, 38, owner of the theater, sat on a wall in a bank parking lot under the shade of a crape myrtle tree and talked about the fire, his white oxford shirt covered with soot.
“I got three phone calls before 7 a.m. Being a nightclub owner I ignored the first two. By the third one I figured i ought to answer,” he said.
Greene said he bought the theater five years ago for $1.5 million and has been renovating it since then. He said he had spent nearly $750,000 in the renovation effort.”
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Was Georgia Theatre Fire Arson?
Posted: 5:34 am EDT June 22, 2009