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Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

Perry couple lose family business in fire caused by lightning strike

PERRY — Mary and Bryan Davee lost their family business Monday night in a fire that authorities say was caused by a lightning strike when a severe thunderstorm tore through Middle Georgia.

“For the first hour, you’re frantic,” Mary Davee said of watching the saw mill her husband inherited from her father burn. “Then you get a grip and realize there’s nothing you can do, and you watch it and wait till tomorrow.”

Houston County Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Noles said the fire that destroyed the business was started by a lightning strike. The call came in about 7:15 p.m.

More than 30 firefighters from Houston and Peach counties battled the blaze, managing to keep the fire from spreading from the saw mill at 311 Culpepper Road to adjacent structures on the 15-acre property, Noles said. The Davee’s home is at 309 Culpepper Road.

Firefighters were contending with saw dust, lumber, lacquer and other chemicals, he said.

No one was injured in the blaze, Noles said. But the saw mill, founded in 1973, was destroyed, he said.

For more on this story, return to macon.com and read Wednesday’s Telegraph.