Arson suspected in fire at abandoned factory in Palatka

2 years ago 262

Aerial presumption of Wilson Cypress Company mill - Palatka, Florida. 1940 (circa). (State Archives of Florida)

PALATKA, Fla. – The authorities occurrence marshal volition see arson arsenic the imaginable origin of a occurrence that ripped done an abandoned mill connected River Street successful Palatka Sunday afternoon.

Palatka Fire Department Chief Chris Taylor told News4JAX the preliminary probe by responding firefighters raised suspicions since the mill was not occupied and doesn’t person electricity.

Flames were archetypal noticed successful the gathering astir 4:15 p.m. The occurrence was afloat extinguished by 6, Taylor said.

Property records amusement the gathering has been abandoned for years, pending renovation plans. The mill was built successful the late-1800s and is 10,000 quadrate feet.

A photo from the State Archives of Florida shows an aerial presumption of the gathering erstwhile Wilson Cypress Company and Florida Furniture Industries operated retired of the abstraction successful the 1940s.

News4JAX is connected the mode to the scene.