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City to assess future dangers
Downtown buildings destroyed Jim Bardwell After three days of combing through the charred bricks and rubble left from Wednesday night's fire that engulfed two downtown buildings, agents with the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) hope to release the results of their investigation this week.
Inspections, education planned for downtown area businesses Jim Bardwell
Look for daily updates in the Mirror's E-edition available on the Gladewater Mirror App, Facebook and website Gregg County Fire Marshal Mark Moore called in the ATF due to the scope of the fire, which was too large for local resources and officials to thoroughly investigate in a timely manner. Agents began arriving on Friday and started documenting and investigating the fire zone over the weekend in freezing temperatures. The fire broke out around 10 p.m. Wednesday, with fire crews from multiple departments responding to the 100 block of North Main Street and Tony's Old South Cafe, formerly The Fork, and the adjacent building on its south side. Gladewater, Longview, Sabine, and Clarksville City Warren City fire departments worked for about five hours before finally extinguishing the last flames early Thursday mornmg. Firefighters were able to save Christie's Collectibles, which is located on the north side of Tony's Cafe, with little to no damage reported. Firefighters also were able to save a large storage building and a residence which are both situated very close to each other in the same city block. Donna Christie stood across the street with dozens of other people and watched as flames crept up to the second floor of Tony's Cafe and threatened her building. If not for the aerial ladder truck Longview Fire Department brought to the scene, the entire block would most likely have been consumed. It is believed the fire started in the rear of the vacant building, which reportedly had no power and was in the process of being cleaned so a local business could relocate to that location. Both buildings destroyed in the fire belong to David Reeh and Karen Newman, according to Gregg County tax records, and are appraised at a total of $248,700. Gladewater Fire Fighters began battling the structure fire shortly after responding to the 9-1-1 calls, but downed electrical wires prevented firefighters from getting close enough to effectively fight the fire, until SWEPCO workers arrived and turned off the power. Scott Ragsdale, ATF public information officer, said Monday the ATF's National Response Team found kerosene and gasoline cans inside the area where it is believed the fire originated. However, Ragsdale said they were not ready to release their conclusion as to what caused Continued on Page 9
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Longview firefighters used their aerial ladder truck to attack Wednesday night's fire from above, which helped contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading. Photos by Jim Bardwell
Gladewater's downtown district is known as the "Antique Capital of East Texas," but that doesn't mean just the items for sale are old. The majority ofthe buildings downtown are also antiques dating back to the 1930s and 1940s. And while that can make them quaint, it also means they most likely have no modern fire prevention equipment like overhead sprinkler systems. Ironically, Gladewater City Manager Theo Melancon and interim Fire Chief Michael Kirkwood were surveying and discussing the downtown area, assessing potential fire hazards the very day a fire broke out in the 100 bock of N. Main Street and consumed two structures. The fire also posed a potential danger for Melancon and his family who live in the same block directly behind the building that caught. The family fled their home as soon as they spotted the flames. New structures in Gladewater must meet current building and safety standards. However, the older buildings do not have all the new safety devices, which can be cost prohibited to install. "We as the city of Gladewater and the Gladewater Fire Department will do our part to help prevent or limit the opportunity of this happening again," said Fire Chief Michael Kirkwood. "As part of these efforts, we will conduct building inspections annually to make sure issues within our businesses are taken care of. "We will also help educate the business owners on fire prevention and how they can assist us by keeping their businesses up to code. Some of the things the owners can do to assist us is to keep their building free of clutter, don't store flammable products or liquids in the buildings, fix any issues that they are aware of to prevent a fire from occurring such as electrical issues. Double check everything at the end of the day to ensure everything is turned off before leaving for the night." Kirkwood said he encourages the public to call the GFD when they have questions or concerns that mayanse.
Pritchett man killed in officer-involved shooting BY PHilliP WILLIAMS
Correspondent GILMER-- Texas Rangers are investigating the death of a 53-year-old man in a shooting involving Upshur County and state law enforcement officers outside the man's Pritchett residence on Tuesday night of last week, authorities said. Dale Hightower died at the scene in the 1700 block of Cottonwood Road, according to information in news releases from new Upshur County
Sheriff Larry Webb and Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Jean Dark. A sheriffs deputy and a DPS trooper fired out of fear for their lives when Hightower pointed a rifle at them after deputies responded at 7: 55 p.m. to a 911 "welfare check" call, authorities said. As the investigation proceeds, the sheriff's deputy, who has not been identified, has been placed on paid administrative leave, which
is "standard policy" in such cases, Webb wrote. Dark, who did not identify the DPS trooper, did not state whether that officer was also put on such leave and Webb said Monday he did not know, Webb, who was in only his third day in office when the incident occurred, said he was awaiting word from Dark on when DPS wanted to release the two officers' names. He expressed confidence the shooting would be found to be
justifiable. Webb had written that while more than one deputy sheriff was dispatched on the call, only one and a DPS trooper "both discharged their weapon in the direction of the individual" after Hightower "confronted" them. Dark said in her news release that "According to the preliminary investigation, upon arrival, the officers heard screaming from inside the residence. A male subject
exited the residence with a rifle and pointed the weapon at the deputies and the trooper. The officers, fearing for their lives, fired their weapons at the suspect, incapacitating him." First aid was immediately given, and emergency medical services were called to the scene, but Hightower died there, Dark said. A female was found unharmed inside the home, she added. Continued on Page 9