Welcome to mcdowellnews.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

mcdowellnews.com - The McDowell News

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Flames gut flea market

Richelle Bailey

Fire destroyed one of two sections of the flea market on U.S. 70 East Sunday night.

By Richelle Bailey | The McDowell News

Published: November 3, 2008

For the second time in less than 10 years, fire officials are sifting through the smoldering ashes of the flea market on U.S. 70 East across from Swift Galey.
One of the buildings went up in flames shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, destroying the structure and all of its contents. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
"We're very grateful no one was hurt," said Jim Huskins, who co-owns the property with his mother and siblings. "There's nothing here that's not replaceable."
Huskins talked to reporters at the scene Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the property went up in flames. Patches of charred debris still smoldered. Streams and puddles of water from firefighters' efforts to extinguish the blaze stood fresh against the ground.
And memories of a similar fire in 1999 stood fresh on Huskins' mind.
Ninety percent of the trade lot burned in late June of that year. A cause was never determined.
The Huskins family, led by mother Elizabeth Huskins Hoilman, rebuilt the market in two separate sections. It was the easternmost building that burned Sunday night. Marion Fire Chief Jim Neal said the cubicles in that section were occupied by Hoilman and Fred Harris.
Huskins said that area housed antiques, tools and miscellaneous merchandise.
Luckily, Neal added, firefighters were able to save the westernmost building.
"That's remarkable because the one building was fully involved when we arrived on the scene," he stated.
Fire officials were scheduled to return to the site Monday afternoon to further investigate what might have sparked the flames.
A damage estimate was not available Monday.
Marion firefighters were on the scene an hour and 45 minutes Sunday. They were assisted by members of Nebo, Glenwood and Hankins-North Fork fire departments, the McDowell County Rescue Squad, McDowell County Emergency Medical Services and the Marion Police Department.