Three Oneida Businesses Damaged By Fire

Oneida, TN (2011-01-26) A late evening two alarm fire gutted one Oneida business and left two others damaged on Alberta Street Wednesday night. The vigilance of the Oneida Police Department may have saved the building from further damage.

Fat Baby Meats, an Oneida butcher shop, received extensive fire damage in Wednesday night’s blaze, which appeared to have started in a backroom of the business. Two other businesses, Bombshells, a locally-owned hair salon, and Young’s Insurance Agency, also received significant smoke and water damage. All three businesses were housed in one structure, which is located next to Oneida City Hall.

The fire was reportedly discovered around 8:10 p.m., when Oneida dispatcher Kendra Laxton and Cpl. Gerry “Greasey” Garrett noticed an unusual sight on surveillance camera monitors at Oneida City Hall. At first, the duo thought it was blowing snow; however, they soon realized it was smoke. Upon further investigation, Garrett realized the smoke was coming from the business complex.

According to Oneida Fire Chief Mike Stringer, the fire was contained to the butcher shop. “When we arrived, the fire was at the front of the building,” he commented. The fire department initially attacked the fire from the rear of the complex, hoping to protect the hair salon and insurance office; however, the fire rapidly crossed the attic of the steel structure, feeding on insulation. As result, the hair salon and insurance agency were heavily damaged by smoke and water.

More than twenty firefighters from the Oneida and Mid-County Volunteer Fire Department braved bitterly cold temperatures and icy conditions to battle the blaze. While the fire was reportedly brought under control in about twenty minutes, firefighters spent more than four hours on the scene, dealing with the aftermath of the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.