SPRINGDALE : Fire sweeps auto store damaged by Ike
Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/239550/
A weekend fire at Schwag Guenther’s automotive shop in Springdale finished what Hurricane Ike started.
In mid-September, strong winds scalped the tar and felt from the roof of Brakes and More as remnants of the hurricane swept through the area. On Saturday, Springdale Fire Department officials called Guenther about 10 p. m. to tell him the building had been on fire.
Water from Saturday’s rains had seeped under the tarps he put up after Ike and caused a fire in the area of a florescent light near the building’s garage doors.
Firefighters were dispatched to 909 S. Thompson St. at 8: 55 p. m. and had the fire under control by 9: 18 p. m., said battalion chief Sam Clardy.
The loss is estimated at about $ 30, 000, Clardy said.
After the hurricane, Guenther smiled and joked — thankful no one was hurt — and moved his operations outside the converted gas station near Thompson Street and Sunset Avenue. He said he’d spent about $ 1, 800 to fix the roof just a few weeks before.
Guenther said Monday that he was again thankful no one was hurt in the fire, but admitted he’s wearing thin.
Because the shop was built in the 1960 s, Guenther said, building codes will need to be satisfied before the city will restore his electricity.
“I still haven’t recovered from the first one. This one is closing me down,” he said. “I’m almost at the breaking point. I don’t know what to do.”
Guenther rents the building but said his lease agreement makes him responsible for upkeep.
For now, he’s using a portable generator to keep some lights on, but it likely will be a month before he can get back into the building and reopen.
“I’m trying to stay positive, but I’m kind of depressed,” he said. “[There’s ] not a thing I can do.”
Guenther said he will decide whether to continue operating his business based on insurance coverage and the cost of updating the building. “I’m hoping bringing the building up to code will be covered by insurance,” he said. “I guess when it rains, it pours, huh ?”
To contact this reporter: aotoole@arkansasonline. com