Electrical fire affects six Wharton businesses
Electrician, city working to get stores re-opened by late Tuesday afternoon
By JEREMY HEATH jheath@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Jeremy Heath An electrical fire that started Saturday evening hampered six Wharton businesses in the strip on the Hwy 59 access road in front of Walmart.

Six local businesses lost power because of an electrical fire on Saturday evening.

The fire broke out behind the strip of businesses at 1261 Hwy 59 in front of the Walmart. AT@T Wireless, Citi Financial, CATO Fashions, Top Nails and Spa, Check 'n Go Loans and Hartz Chicken occupy the strip.

The city contracted Paragon Electric on Monday to repair the damage. Paragon owner James Taylor said he hoped to have the damage repaired and ready for a city inspection by noon on Tuesday. City Building Inspector Ronald Bollom had scheduled a Tuesday afternoon inspection of the facility based on Taylor's projections.

"It looks like one of the busses came loose," Taylor said on Monday. "They (the businesses) are lucky (the fire damage wasn't worse). They're very lucky."

The Wharton Fire Department received the call at 4:06 p.m. on Saturday. The WPD sent one truck and two chiefs to the scene and had the situation under control at 5:07 p.m.

Four of the six businesses were not in use on Monday. Despite a lack of air conditioning, Citi Financial employees manned their offices Monday and Tuesday, and Check 'n Go branch manager Karratta Jackson was making appointments and meeting clients at the office on Monday.

"It's a huge inconvenience," Jackson said. "It's too hot to stay up here all day, so I've had people calling me at home, then I'll come up here to meet them."

Hartz Chicken owner Jerry Colquett had more to worry about than lost business and making payroll decisions. All of the food in his freezers had to be thrown out and the freezers cleaned. He'll have to restock his freezers before opening the doors.

Colquett originally thought it would take until Thursday or Friday to open his doors, but after meeting with Taylor Tuesday and speaking with Bollom, he said he hoped to open up Wednesday.

The business owners now will meet with their insurance companies to find out what their options are as far as filing claims in an attempt to recuperate lost revenue or, in Colquett's case, inventory.